New Delhi: Former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti, whose wife has filed a complaint of domestic violence against him, had told her that he owns an international Law firm with offices in US and UK.
In her 20 page complaint to the Delhi Commission for Women, Bharti's wife alleged that he tortured her repeatedly and even left his dog on her when she was pregnant.
Bharti and Lipika Mitra met on matrimonial portal Shaadi.com in February 2010 and got married in December the same year.
Lipika alleged he never provided any financial support to her and started torturing her soon after the wedding.
Here are a few of the major allegations made by Lipika against Bharti:
- Bharti had claimed that he owns an international Law firm with offices in US and UK when they met on a matrimonial site.
- Somnath abused Lipika on their honeymoon and came back to India, leaving her alone. During their honeymoon trip, he disclosed that he did not have any law firm, his financial condition was not stable and he was under debt.
- After coming back from honeymoon he made her to keep the jewellery with his mother Manorama Rani.
- During pregnancy, Lipika did not receive any financial support. Bharti and her mother abused her during this period and made her to bear all the expenses.
- Bharti demanded car and a house as dowry. When Lipika did not oblige, they abused and slapped her.
- On February 23, 2011, Somnath hit Lipika in front of his mother. She left the home and went to her mother. Next day he called in her office and called her names. She was pregnant at the time. On April 27, 2011 she gave birth to a premature baby.
- When Lipika e-mailed him that she wanted to end the relationship, he apologised and requested her to come home. Bharti's mother did not open the door and his brother abused her. When she called police, Bharti threatened to hurt her physically.
- She conceived again in September 2012 but he never supported her financially during pregnancy or delivery.
- On March 19, 2013, he hit her and tried to choke her while she was pregnant.
- He made his dog attack Lipika on her stomach and private parts.
- Bharti forced her to abort the third child but never gave her any money.
- On May 27 this year, Bharti abused her physically and verbally and said that he would make her so miserable that she will not be able to make out her living.
