The Supreme Court has refused to grant interim bail to Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case filed by wife Lipika Mitra.
Bharti had surrendered before the Delhi Police late on Monday night following Supreme Court order. He had sought bail till October 5 alleging that he has been ill-treated by the police who made him sleep on the floor of lock-up. Bharti’s counsel Gopal Subramaniam said the AAP leader wants to prepare for mediation with his wife.
But the bench of Chief Justice of India HL Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy said there is no assurance of any kind to give him bail. The apex court also sought Lipika’s presence on Monday to ascertain whether she would agree to Bharti’s request for settlement of matrimonial dispute through mediation.
The AAP MLA has been booked under various sections of the IPC including 307 (attempt to murder), 420 (cheating and dishonesty), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 417 (punishment for cheating), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), 498a (husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).
(with inputs from agencies)