Refusing to accept former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti’s defence that his case was a botched-up family dispute blown out of proportion, the Supreme Court on Monday asked him to behave like a responsible citizen and first surrender.
On the run for the past several days, Mr. Bharti, through his counsel and senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, was left with no option but to give the apex court his word that he would surrender before 6.30 p.m.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu and Amitava Roy offered Mr. Subramanium a choice of surrendering on Monday, in which case the court would hear him on the merits of the allegations against him on October 1.
“Don’t run away like this ... First surrender and then we will take up your matter on Thursday [October 1],” the Chief Justice told Mr. Subramanium.
The Chief Justice asked whether Mr. Bharti’s past conduct had been that of a “responsible citizen” who had been denied anticipatory bail by both the trial court and the High Court concerned.
The hearing started with Mr. Subramanium submitting that this was quintessentially a case of marital discord which spiralled out of control due to over-exposure.
Efforts should be made now to refer the case for mediation for the sake of the couple’s minor children.
“Both parties have to come together and do what is best for their children. This is a case arising out of matrimonial relationship. There should be some amount of respect and privacy given to this case,” Mr. Subramanium argued.
But the court did not flinch, with the Chief Justice asking “since you did not get any anticipatory bail, what should have been your conduct? ... As we said, first surrender. We have the best mediation centre here in the Supreme Court. If parties are willing to settle their family troubles, we will be the first people to refer the case for mediation. We will see what is to be done.”
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