AAP MLA Somnath Bharti arrested

Delhi Police arrested Aam Aadmi Party member and legislator Somnath Bharti on Thursday over charges of assaulting security guards of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Based on the complaint of chief security officer (CSO) of AIIMS, a first information report (FIR) was lodged against the MLA from Malviya Nagar on September 11. In his written complaint, the CSO had alleged that, on the morning of September 9, Bharti “provoked the mob to damage the fence of government property (AIIMS).” Six security guards were injured in the process of trying to stop this mob. The FIR was lodged at Hauz Khas police station.

Refuting the claims of AIIMS security personnel, Bharti had earlier “dared” Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get him arrested.

Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain said Bharti’s arrest was a political tool of intimidation. Talking to the media, Jain said that the trend of arrests would stop once the assembly elections in Goa and Punjab are over.

Bharti has been apprehended a day after the arrest of another AAP lawmaker, Amanatullah Khan, who is the MLA from Okhla. Khan claimed that he had gone “to discuss issues” with the Deputy Commissioner of Police – Sarita Vihar at their office when he was unexpectedly arrested.

Last week, Khan’s 32-year-old sister-in-law had filed a case of sexual harassment against him and her husband.