The Patiala House Court in Delhi has framed charges against AAP leader and former law minister of Delhi Somnath Bharti in the 2014 midnight raid case. According to reports, the court has fixed the dates of September 4 and 7 for recording the statements of witnesses in the case.
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Somnath Bharti and 16 others are being charged under the allegations of molestation, assault, threat, promoting enmity and rioting. According to reports, the court had ordered to frame molestation charges against Bharti on June 30. Bharti and the other accused had allegedly assaulted a Ugandan woman in January 2014. The Patiala House Court has reportedly observed that there is sufficient prima facie case against the accused to frame charges and start legal proceedings.
Bharti will now face trial under the sections 147/149 (rioting), 354 (molestation), 354c (voyeurism), 342 (wrongful confinement), 506(outraging a woman’s modesty) and 186 (obstruction of public servants from discharging their duty) of the IPC.
A Ugandan woman had appealed to the court on January 18, 2014, alleging assault against unknown persons. An FIR was lodged by the Delhi Police on the woman’s complaint. The police charge sheet reportedly stated that Somnath Bharti and others had ‘raided’ a locality in Khirki Extension near Malviya Nagar on the midnight of 15th January and had assaulted the Ugandan woman who was staying in a rented accommodation.
It is notable here that Bharti is also facing charges of domestic abuse filed by his wife.