New Delhi: A trial court in Delhi today sent former Delhi Aam Admi Party lawmaker Somnath Bharti to two day police custody in connection with a domestic violence case filed by his wife.
He was arrested earlier in the day, hours after he surrendered in connection with the attempt to murder and domestic violence case filed by his wife.
The police asked for his custody arguing that recoveries such as the knife with which he allegedly attacked his wife and his wife's jewellery had to be seized at his instance.
More information has to be gathered on the dog that reportedly attacked Bharti's wife Lipika, the police argued.
Also Read: Domestic violence case: Somnath Bharti surrenders before Delhi police
Bharti argued his case himself after his lawyer failed to reach the court at time.
The former Delhi law minister was arrested around 4 AM, Dependra Pathak, Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) said.
Bharti, who evaded arrest for nearly a week, had surrendered last night hours after the Supreme Court ordered him to give himself up in the domestic violence and attempt to murder case filed by his wife.
The MLA has been arrested 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), said Pathak.
The FIR against the former Delhi Law Minister was registered at Dwarka North police station following a complaint by his wife Lipika Mitra.
"There was a warrant and I was availing legal remedies till the Honourable Supreme Court directed me to surrender. In compliance with the direction...I am here to surrender," Bharti had said.
A lawyer for Bharti had said last night that the legislator's father was unwell and that is why he could not surrender last evening as directed by the apex court. Bharti
was "avoiding" and not "evading" police, he had said.
AAP had asked its Malviya Nagar MLA to surrender "immediately" to avoid "further embarrassment" to the party and himself.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had termed his party colleague as an embarrassment".
Bharti had failed to get relief from the Supreme Court as it rejected his plea that he be given time till tomorrow to surrender.
"We want him to surrender before appropriate jurisdiction of the police. We don't intend to pass any further order," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy had said.
(With inputs from agencies)
