Will AAP show Somnath Bharti the door?

The Aam Aadmi Party's national executive is meeting in New Delhi where it is likely to take a decision on the fate of its former minister and member of Legislative Assembly Somnath Bharti, who is on the run in a domestic violence case.

The national executive, the second highest decision making body of the AAP, which is meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence may take a decision on Bharti's fate, AAP sources said.

Kejriwal had on Wednesday said that Bharti is becoming an "embarrassment" to the party and he should surrender immediately and cooperate with the police.

Meanwhile, Bharti has moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from the arrest after the Delhi high court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea. According to reports, he has sought a direction that the Delhi police be restrained from arresting him till his petition challenging the order is decided.

Bharati's wife Lipika Mitra had filed a complaint of domestic violence with the Delhi commission for women on June 10 alleging that her husband had been abusing her since their marriage in 2010. She had also given a complaint to the police in this regard.

Delhi Police then registered an FIR against Bharti under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 498A (cruelty towards wife), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 313 read with 511 (attempt to cause miscarriage without woman's consent), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.

The Delhi HC while rejecting the plea observed that the allegations against Bharti were backed by "documentary proof". Terming the allegations as "very serious", Justice Suresh Kait had said she has been tolerating his "cruelty" and "brutal assault".

Image: AAP leader Somnath Bharti