Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti was on Wednesday granted conditional bail by a Delhi court in the domestic violence case lodged against him by his wife Lipika Mitra.
Allegations of Bharti's dog Don attacking Mitra at the former's behest were reportedly termed unfounded.
“Serious allegations made by the complainant (Lipika) in the complaint are in consonance with her recorded conversation with applicant (Bharti). Recorded conversations on the point of dog bite and wrist slit reflect different versions… No purpose is going to be served by keeping the applicant further in custody,” The Indian Express quotes the Delhi sessions court as stating.
Giving a clean chit to Don, the court also referred to the Delhi Police's case diary which stated that on examination it was found that Don did not respond to Bharti's commands.
According to The Times of India, the judge said, “The case diary , dated September 30, shows that examination of Don by the board of doctors of animal husbandry hospital was conducted and applicant (Bharti) was directed to give commands -Don come, Don bark, Don bite, Don sit down, etc. But the dog did not respond."
The court also pointed out that according to the police report and emails exchanged between Bharti and Lipika, Don was in Lipika's house and that she was "concerned" about the pet just a few days after the alleged incident of it having attacked her.
Referring to the alleged slitting of the wrist, the judge also said he did not find any, "medical evidence in support of the alleged wrist slit on the night intervening May 27-28. There is only an MLC dated June 11 which only mentions about old cut marks but external injury."
While Bharti has been granted bail, several conditions have been imposed on him by the court. He cannot leave the city without prior permission from the court and will have to report to the office of DCP (southwest) once every week till the chargesheet is filed.