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Court raps Delhi Police for inaction; AAP backs Bharti
Tribune News Service & PTI

New Delhi, January 23
Pressure is mounting on the Delhi Government to take action against its Law Minister Somnath Bharti for allegedly misbehaving with a Ugandan woman in the light of a city court rapping Delhi Police for its failure to take action on the victim’s plea to lodge an FIR against the mob allegedly led by the minister during a raid at Khirki Extension in South Delhi on January 15.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal leaves after meeting Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in New Delhi on Thursday. PTI

The court today asked the DCP, South Delhi, to explain whether his office received any such complaint in this regard or not as despite clear offence being made out in the complaint no action was taken by the police.

“Despite various allegations made in a complaint filed before the court and the fact that the complaint was received at Malviya Nagar police station, no action has been taken by the SHO. It has been stated that the complaint is pending inquiry.

“Before passing any further order on application.... I deem it fit to call for reply from the DCP,” said Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh.

The court sought the DCP’s response by January 25.

MEA seeks details
The Ministry of External Affairs has sought details of the raid on Ugandan nationals. “It is a matter of concern and the government is committed to sharing the details with Uganda and other African countries,” an MEA spokesperson said.

2 more FIRs lodged
Two more FIRs have been lodged in connection with CM Arvind Kejriwal's dharna outside Rail Bhavan. In one of the complaints, women teachers alleged eve-teasing and harassment by demonstrators. Four FIRs have been lodged so far.

The court order came on a second application on the incident by a Ugandan woman, who also sought registration of criminal cases against the persons for creating a ruckus during the raid conducted between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the intervening night of January 15-16.

Sources in the Delhi Government, however, confirmed that no action will be taken against the minister till the inquiry ordered by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung is over. The minister might face an axe from the core committee of party which is considering a separate ‘internal’ probe against Bharti.

Senior leader Yogender Yadav made it clear that it will stand by Bharti and will not take any action against him till the judicial inquiry by the Lieutenant Governor is over.

Yaday urged people to not believe in one-sided stories. He said nothing can be said as of now as the evidence against him was not conclusive.

Bharti was also summoned for questioning on the matter in the meeting of party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC).

Senior Delhi Congress leaders led by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Arvinder Singh met the Lt Governor seeking the removal and arrest of Bharti.

Till date, three foreign women have recorded their statements before a magistrate, in which they have alleged that Bharti had barged into their house along with his supporters on the intervening night of January 15-16.

Delhi Police have already registered a case on January 19 against unknown persons on a plea.