Court Clears Ex-AAP MLA Somnath Bharti in 2014 Assault Case

Former AAP MLA Somnath Bharti was acquitted by a Delhi court on Friday in a 2014 case accusing him of assaulting women from African countries. The acquittal comes as the court found witness statements inadmissible, leading to the prosecution failing to prove the charges.

Presiding over the case, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Mittal highlighted the insufficiency of evidence provided, noting a lack of witness testimony in court. Bharti, who served as the law minister of Delhi at the time, had been charged with various offenses including rioting and obstructing a public servant.

The incident allegedly occurred on the night of January 15-16, 2014, when Bharti reportedly claimed the women were involved in illegal activities. While a reasoned order is still awaited, the court's decision absolves Bharti of the alleged crimes, closing a chapter in the long-delayed case.