AAP MLA Somnath Bharti alleges torture, says police tried to disrobe him

New Delhi: Controversial AAP MLA Somnath Bharti will have to undergo custodial interrogation for three more days with a city court on Thursday extending his police remand till October 4 in an alleged domestic violence and attempt to murder case lodged by his wife.

41-year-old Bharti was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Manika on expiry of his two-day police remand and the investigators sought extension of his remand by five days saying the earlier time period was "not sufficient".

The police also said that Bharti was required for further custodial interrogation as several points have to probed in the case and that he was also not cooperating with the probe.

It said that Bharti's custody was also required to know about the persons who had harboured him while he was evading arrest alleging that they had criminal background.

The agency said that it had strong apprehension that he has taken the knife and jewellery articles, which need to be recovered.

The extension of police custody was opposed by advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who appeared for Bharti, saying the matter was already pending before the Supreme Court.

During the hearing, the former law minister alleged torture at the hands of the police.

"The DCP took of my kurta and tried to disrobe me. The police also brought a knife and asked me to accept that it was recovered during the probe," Bharti said adding that the police also tried to get his signature on some papers.

The AAP MLA was arrested in the wee hours on September 29 after the Supreme Court ordered him to give up in the domestic violence and attempt to murder case filed by his wife.

Bharti had on September 23 moved the apex court seeking protection from arrest in the case and a direction to restrain Delhi Police from arresting him till his plea challenging the High Court order is decided.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had denied interim bail to the jailed AAP MLA and sought the presence of his wife before it on Monday to explore the possibility of mediation in domestic violence and attempt to murder case lodged by her.