New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrived at Somnath Bharti's residence, some time after the Delhi High Court declined to grant anticipatory bail to the Aam Aadmi Party leader in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case lodged by his wife.


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The AAP MLA, who faces arrest, was not found at home. 


"A team of Delhi Police officers raided his house in Malviya Nagar and his office but he was found absconding from both places," Joint Commissioner of Police Deependra Pathak told IANS.

"We need to arrest Bharti to interrogate him in a case of domestic violence and attempt to murder filed by his wife," he said.


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


The high court had on September 17 reserved its verdict while protecting Bharti from arrest till pronouncement of its order.


The court had also pulled the MLA for going to the police station at late night, saying, "If he loves going to police station, then I will send him from here....Once you (Bharti) get relief, you act like a lion and go here and there."


Bharti had moved the high court seeking protection from arrest after a trial court denied him anticipatory bail and another court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.


Bharti's plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by trial court observing that it was the second complaint filed against the MLA by his wife Lipika Mitra, who has alleged that he did not mend his conduct despite assurance before Crime Against Women Cell of the police.


The district court had also rejected the MLA's contention that attempt to murder charge was not made out, while referring to an allegation in the FIR that Bharti tried to strangulate his wife and unleashed his dog on her knowing that she was seven months pregnant.


Lipika had filed a complaint of domestic violence with Delhi Commission for Women on June 10 alleging that her husband had been abusing her since their marriage in 2010. She had also given a complaint to the police in this regard.


The Delhi Police then registered an FIR against Bharti under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 498A (cruelty towards wife), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 313 read with 511 (attempt to cause miscarriage without woman's consent), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.


(With PTI inputs)