AAP MLA Bharti in judicial custody till Oct 19, moves bail application
New Delhi: The judicial custody of controversial AAP MLA and former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti was extended by a fortnight on Monday, as he moved a bail plea before a court here in an alleged domestic violence case lodged by his wife.
Hours earlier, the Supreme Court had disposed of his anticipatory bail plea and asked him to move the trial court for regular bail, even as his estranged wife, Lipika Mitra, told the apex court she was not willing for mediation to settle the domestic violence and attempt to murder case.
The bail plea filed by Bharti, whose judicial custody was on Monday extended till October 19 by another court, will be heard Tuesday by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Anil Kumar.
Earlier, Metropolitan Magistrate Manika extended his judicial custody by 14 days on the application of Delhi Police stating that there was apprehension that Bharti might threaten and influence witnesses.
During the hearing, Bharti told the magistrate that he has not been provided food since morning in the lock-up inside the court premises, leading the court to issue notice to the authorities and the jail superintendent seeking a response.
Bharti, who was produced before the court, also said he wanted to write a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that his rights were being violated. The court asked him to approach the jail authorities in this regard.
Soon after his judicial custody was extended, Bharti moved a bail plea before District and Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur, who listed it for hearing tomorrow before the ASJ.
The 41-year-old MLA was yesterday sent to a day's judicial custody after the investigating agency said it did not seek his further custody.
Earlier in the day, the apex court disposed of Bharti's anticipatory bail plea after his wife Lipika refused to undergo mediation.
A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu took note of Lipika's statement and disposed of the MLA's petition saying it has now become infructuous as the petitioner has already surrendered.
The AAP MLA was arrested in the wee hours on September 29 after the Supreme Court ordered him to surrender.
