Lipika cries for action against Bharti

Tribune News Service 

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New Delhi, June 15

Aam Aadmi Party legislator Somnath Bharti's estranged wife Lipika Mitra today said she wants action against Bharti over her complaints related to domestic violence while adding that she is contemplating to approach the court for getting a divorce. 

Claiming that she has "evidence" against the former AAP Cabinet minister to prove her charges, Mitra said the whole controversy had taken "a toll" on her while alleging that Bharti had been approaching all common friends, relatives and her landlord, to convince her into withdrawing the complaint.

Sources said Bharti is trying to settle the matter. 

She was addressing a press conference at Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Barkha Singh's residence at Safdarjung Enclave that was disrupted by her mother-in-law who said she was ready to move to an old-age home for the couple to reunite. 

Mitra slammed Bharti against whom she had lodged a complaint with the DCW on June 10 alleging torture and abuse by husband and harassment by her mother-in-law too.

"It is shameful for me to prove after five years of marriage and two kids that I have a relationship with my husband Somnath Bharti," said an emotional Lipika while reacting to Bharti's claim that they have been living separately since their marriage in 2010. 

Noting that the former AAP Law Minister accused her of working for the BJP and as told by the police, she alleged, "I am very scared.... He has threatened me before and after this complaint, I have been receiving calls from unknown numbers and also strangers have been trying to enter the premises of my residence. I want action and will approach the court."

She said Bharti had manipulated the spouse details in his affidavit filed during the Delhi elections while adding that she had hoped that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will intervene in the issue. 

Meanwhile, Bharti's mother Manorama Bharti who was accompanied by her lawyer said, "I am ready to move to an old-age home if my daughter-in-law can live happily with my son."

Earlier, Somnath had alleged that Lipika wanted him to leave his mother. He today attacked DCW chief Barkha Singh asking if DCW was meant to "break the family or unite" it.

"When DCW has listed the matter for June 26, why press conferences before that?" he tweeted.