New Delhi, January 22
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today faced mounting demands for the removal of controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti after an African woman identified him as allegedly heading a group of assaulters in a mid-night raid on January 15. The woman had filed a complaint, alleging racial abuse, trespass, molestation and hurt.

Bharti faces the threat of an arrest, sources in Delhi Police said. Once a copy of her statement was received, the matter would be pursued, said a police official, adding, “We will see what is there in her statement. If Bharti’s name is mentioned in it, we will question him”. The officer said according to the IPC sections of the FIR, Bharti could be arrested.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued summons to Bharti to appear before it by Friday afternoon. “If he does not turn up, we will approach the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner against him,” Barkha Singh, DCW chairperson said.

The minister also faced criticism from the National Commission for Women and its chairperson Mamta Sharma, who demanded his resignation. However, unfazed by the intense attack against Bharti, AAP maintained that the party would act only if he was found guilty. “Politics is being played against Bharti. If he is found guilty, then the party will take necessary action,” said Ashutosh, former journalist and party spokesman. The woman from Uganda, a resident of Khirki Extension that falls in Bharti’s constituency, had filed a complaint with the police on January 17, stating that some “unidentified persons” had allegedly entered her house on the night of January 15 and molested, hurt and racially abused her.

The police said the woman recorded her statement before a magistrate on January 20 under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The police claimed the woman identified Bharti as one among those in the group that allegedly entered her house after seeing his picture on television.

Investigators said the FIR was registered on the basis of the woman’s complaint under the IPC Sections 153 A (Promoting enmity among different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), besides trespass, assault or wrongful restraint and molestation.