AAP Lawmaker Somnath Bharti’s Wife Files Complaint of ’Domestic Violence, Mental Torture

Mangalore Today Network-1

New Delhi: June 10, 2015:  In some more controversy for Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the wife of party lawmaker and former Delhi minister Somnath Bharti has filed a complaint against him, accusing him of "domestic violence and mental torture."

Lipika Bharti has complained to the Delhi Commission for Women or DCW, which has summoned Mr Bharti, a lawyer by profession, to appear before it on June 26.

Ms Bharti alleged that she has been subjected to "continuous" physical assault and torture since 2010. "I want a separation. I want out from this marriage and live with dignity with my children," she said.   


Barkha Singh, who heads the DCW, alleged, "Domestic violence began from the time they got married in May 2010.  You have seen her condition. She has two children and even they are being harassed."

"He had hit her before he left, threatened to kill her, abused her which she narrated to us in tears," alleged Ms Singh, who is closely associated with the Congress.

Somnath Bharti, who is in Kerala said, "I am shocked, did not expect this," and also added, "all this is completely false, someone is behind this."

AAP, in its first reaction, has called it a personal matter.

Somnath Bharti, 41, is the AAP legislator from Malviya Nagar in the capital. He was the Law Minister in the 49-day Arvind Kejriwal government of 2014.

Mr Bharti’s midnight raid targeting African women at a south Delhi colony had badly dented the AAP government’s image in its first stint, but Mr Kejriwal had refused to sack him then.

After AAP’s spectacular victory in this year’s Delhi Assembly, Mr Bharti’s was the most marked omission from Mr Kejriwal’s cabinet.

The latest controversy comes only a day after the arrest and resignation of Mr Bharti’s successor and party colleague Jitendra Singh Tomar, who faces allegations of forging degrees.