Framing of charges against ex-Minister Bharti

New Delhi, June 30: In a setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a Delhi court has ordered framing of charges against former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti for molestation and house trespassing, among others, in connection with alleged January 2014 midnight raid in Khirki Extension. The Patiala House Court in Delhi on June 29 ordered that charges be framed against Bharti and 16 others in the case lodged after Malviya Nagar MLA Bharti barged into the homes of nine Ugandan nationals in Khirki Extension, along with some followers, on the intervening night of January 15 and 16. Some of the charges are of crime against women, hence non-bailable.

Ordering framing of charges, the court said there was sufficient evidence that some of these victims were beaten and were caused simple hurt punishable under Section 323 of the IPC. Bharti had alleged that he had received many complaints from residents of the area regarding a drugs and prostitution ring being run by the Ugandan nationals. But no drug recovery was made that night, and two FIRs were filed against Bharti. He also had an altercation with the police on the issue. The chargesheet was filed was over 100-page document. The police had cited around 41 prosecution witnesses, including nine African women, to buttress the charges.

The police lodged an FIR January 19, 2014 against “unknown accused” on the court’s direction and booked them for various charges. The two Ugandan women had sought registration of an FIR against unknown people for creating a ruckus during the raid between 1 a.m and 3 a.m in Khirki Extension here. (IANS)

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