New Delhi: Controversial AAP MLA SomnathBharti, evading arrest for the third consecutive day in a domestic violence and attempt to murder case lodged by his wife, is behaving like a "professional criminal", Delhi Police said on Thursday.
In fresh trouble for Bharti in another case, the Delhi Government sanctioned his prosecution for allegedly leading a midnight raid against a group of African women in South Delhi last year.
Delhi Police, which carried out raids across Delhi and some neighbouring cities in the last three days to arrest him after the High Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail, said the lawmaker was changing his locations and mobile phones frequently but said he would be nabbed soon.
"Bharti is evading arrest and behaving just like a professional criminal, changing his locations and mobile phones from time to time," Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Dependra Pathak told reporters.
Pathak said several police teams have been deployed in the operation and they have been sent to various potential hideouts of the former law minister, who has been booked for alleged attempt to murder and domestic violence based on a complaint filed by his wife, Lipika Mitra.
In the past two days, the police have questioned around 12 persons inquiring about Bharti's whereabouts and all of them are under the scanner for allegedly harbouring Bharti which in itself is a criminal offence, he said.
Adding to his woes, the Delhi Government gave its sanction for his prosecution for alleged involvement in a midnight raid targeting a group of African women in Khirki Extension area of South Delhi last year.
The Home Department of Delhi Government notified Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's sanction to prosecute the MLA for his alleged involvement in the raid in Khirki Extension area in January, 2014 when he was the Law Minister in the AAP Government.
Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Malviya Nagar MLA is becoming an "embarrassment" to the party and asked him to surrender immediately.
Interestingly, the AAP government last month had opposed LG's nod to prosecute Bharti in the raid case. Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain had then conveyed to Jung that sanction to prosecute Bharti should not be given.
