Trouble continues to mount for Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti as another Ugandan woman on Thursday approached a local court seeking registration of an FIR over the “midnight raid” allegedly carried out by Mr. Bharti and his supporters at Khirki Extension in South Delhi last week.
The woman has not identified Mr. Bharti yet. “She alleged that a mob barged into her house and she along with her sisters were told to leave the country but did not name anybody in particular,” said a source.
Based on the woman’s request, the court has directed the Delhi Police to file a report by Saturday. It also criticized the police for failure to take action on earlier complaints by Ugandan women. Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, B.S. Jaiswal has now been asked to explain the reason for the delay.
“Despite various allegations made in a complaint as filed before the court, and the fact that the complaint was received in Malviya Nagar police station, no action has been taken by the Station House Officer and it has been stated that complaint is pending inquiry,” said Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh.
Three African women have till date recorded their statements before a magistrate, in which they have stated that Mr. Bharti had barged into their house along with his supporters on the intervening night of January 15-16.
In a related development, the minister has received summon by the Delhi Commission for Woman and will appear before the commission on Friday afternoon.
The Delhi Commission for Women said, summon was delivered at Bharti’s house through an SHO. “We will wait for Mr. Bharti to appear before us till 3 p.m. on Friday,” said DCW Chairperson Barkha Singh. If the minister fails to appear, the commission will approach Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and Delhi Police Commissioner B. S. Bassi. The commission had earlier threatened Mr. Bharti with an FIR after he continued to maintain that he had not received any summons.
Published - January 24, 2014 11:38 am IST
