Court dismisses Somnath plea

A Delhi court on Monday dismissed a plea of former Law Minister Somnath Bharti’s seeking further investigation in a case of allegedly outraging the modesty of African women here in 2014.

Mr. Bharti and 17 others are facing prosecution in the case for allegedly barging into a flat occupied by the African women at Khirki Extension in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar during a midnight raid and misbehaving with them.

Charge sheet

The police have charge sheeted them under various Sections of IPC including 354 (molestation), 147/149 (rioting), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (outraging modesty of a woman), 153A (promoting enmity between two groups), 323 (assault) and 427 (criminal trespass).

Dismissing the application, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said, “The evidence as to the facts raised by the applicant are already with him [Mr. Bharti] including the video... as admitted by the applicant during arguments. Therefore, there is no need for further prolonging this matter by directing further investigation on the points raised by the applicant as neither they are relevant for the purpose of prosecution nor are the facts which needs police assistance to unearth them.’’

“Whether the applicant is innocent or is guilty shall be the subject matter of trial. The applicant will get full opportunity to prove his defence.. . Therefore, on the basis of aforesaid discussions, it is clear that the grounds as raised by the applicant...does not call for invoking the jurisdiction.. to order further investigation. The application is devoid of merits, therefore, dismissed,’’ Mr. Vishal said.