Delhi HC dismisses Somnath Bharti's anticipatory bail plea; arrest likely

New Delhi: In a big setback to AAP leader Somnath Bharti, the Delhi High Court, Tuesday, rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case of domestic violence lodged by his wife.

A senior Delhi Police official said that investigators want to conduct Bharti's custodial interrogation but he is yet to present himself for questioning, indicating that the former Delhi minister's arrest may be imminent.

Delhi Police, through Special Public Prosecutor Shailendra Babbar, contended that custodial interrogation for Bharti was needed to recover dowry articles, kitchen knife with which he allegedly slit his wife's wrist and electronic evidence, which allegedly had some objectionable data to ensure safety of witnesses.

“Petitioner should come fwd, help prosecution to settle case. We want his custodial interrogation,” Babbar.

However, Bharti's advocate, Dayan Krishnan, argued that the sum and substance of the FIR against the MLA was a matrimonial dispute, which has been "blown out of proportion" in view of his "elected position".