LG gives consent to prosecute Somnath Bharti over Khirkee Extension raid case
Aam Aadmi Party slams LG’s approval to prosecute Somanth Bharti
New Delhi: The Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday cleared prosecution of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti in the infamous Khirkee Extension raid case in connection with alleged misbehaviour with African women during a midnight raid in south Delhi in January, 2014.
Delhi government today slammed the latter for “not consulting” it before giving his nod to prosecute party MLA Somnath Bharti in connection with the Khirki Extension midnight raid case. Delhi Home Minister minister Satyendra Jain told PTI that he had sent a file “to the LG’s office 10-15 days back suggesting that he should not give his approval for prosecuting Bharti”.
However, the LG “did not consult the minister-in-charge (Home Minister) before giving his nod for prosecuting Bharti”, Jain claimed, adding that the “LG thinks he is the government.
In its charge sheet filed in September last year, police had said that “nine African women were victims of molestation and manhandling by a mob led by Bharti” in Khirki Extension area. On the intervening night of 15-16 January, Bharti and his supporters had allegedly forcibly detained and threatened some African women during a confrontation with police in his constituency of Malviya Nagar in New Delhi over inaction against a suspected drug and prostitution ring. Bharti, who was then a minister in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, had denied the charges.
