NEW DELHI -- MLA Somnath Bharti, who served as law minister in Aam Aadmi Party's first government, has been accused by his wife of domestic violence, harassment, and torture since 2010.
Lipika Bharti has filed a complaint of domestic violence with the Delhi Commission for Women. "Me and my children are subject to harassment and torture -mental, physical and oral - by my husband Somnath Bharti. There is a persistent threat from my husband and his supporters," her complaint said.
Bharti has been asked by the DCW to reply by June 26.
His (Somnath Bharti) wife is distressed, said she ws beaten, verbally abused & given death threats: Barkha Singh, DCW pic.twitter.com/lAiy09Vp9w
β ANI (@ANI_news) June 10, 2015
Wife said that children were harassed in addition to her being beaten, we have called Somnath Bharti on 26th this month: Barkha Singh, DCW
β ANI (@ANI_news) June 10, 2015
Lipika alleged that she has been facing domestic violence since 2010.
"It would be difficult for me to summarise all these. It's going on for a long time. It has been going on since 2010. I want separation, I want to be out from this marriage. I want to live with dignity with my children. It has been a continuous process through which I was going through," she told ANI.
Cant explain in couple of words, its been going on since 2010. I want out from this marriage: Lipika Mitra (wife of Somnath Bharti)
β ANI (@ANI_news) June 10, 2015
Want separation, & to live with my children with dignity: Lipika Mitra on facing domestic violence by Somnath Bharti pic.twitter.com/zHoB9XocIO
β ANI (@ANI_news) June 10, 2015
Bharti described these allegations as "baseless."
Allegations of domestic violence if any are baseless n inconceivable. I love my wife n my little children. I urge media 2 respect my privacy
β Adv. Somnath Bharti (@attorneybharti) June 10, 2015
For 5 years she is making demand that I have to choose between my mother and her: Somnath Bharti on his wife pic.twitter.com/xWsYiJHoQT
β ANI (@ANI_news) June 10, 2015
It is the matter between me and my wife, party should not be dragged into this: Somnath Bharti pic.twitter.com/Ipk0513xdO
β ANI (@ANI_news) June 10, 2015
Last year, Bharti faced severe criticism for his vigilante-midnight raid against Ugandan and Nigerian women living in Khirki Extension, who locals accused of running a drug and prostitution racket, but the AAP government backed its minister.
AAP Delhi Secretary Dilip Pandey's said that his party will conduct an investigation into the allegations of domestic violence.
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