Somnath Bharti`s name crops up in another controversy

AAP leader Somnath Bharti was linked to a fresh controversy here on Monday after some people alleged to be AAP workers thrashed an MCD official near DC office of South zone in Green Park.

New Delhi: Former Law minister and AAP leader Somnath Bharti was linked to a fresh controversy here on Monday after some people alleged to be AAP workers thrashed an MCD official near the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office of South zone in Green Park.

According to the police, the victim was identified as Ashok Kumar, who is an executive engineer with the south municipal corporation. "He was allegedly beaten up by some people who were protesting against the demolition of a house in Hauz Khas area in South Delhi," said a police official. The incident took place minutes before Bharti along with some of his supporters reached the spot to protest against the MCD and its demolition drive. Bharti, however, claimed that those involved with the incident were not AAP workers and he had nothing to do with them. He later met the South DC along with his supporters and questioned him as to why the MCD never takes action against the "high and mighty" and always targets the common man. Bharti also said that MCD should do a survey and make a list of people including MPs, ministers, MLAs and councillors who have broken building bye-laws and take action against them before razing the house of a commoner. He also claimed that the authorities are specifically targeting AAP supporters. In his complaint about the incident, the executive engineer claimed that he was beaten up by four people who were allegedly wearing AAP caps and were protesting outside the office before Bharti arrived.