AAP MLA Somnath Bharti's aide in UP booked for 'stealing' car

NEW DELHI: Trouble seems to be mounting on arrested AAP MLA Somnath Bharti as investigations reveal that he connived with a UP-based member of his party, Baney Singh, to allegedly "flee" with a car belonging to an acquaintance to be on the run.

The car owner, Lal Singh, has registered an FIR against Singh for the crime. UP Police has invoked IPC Section 406 (criminal breach of trust) in the matter. TOI had first reported on September 26 about Bharti seeking help from an AAP member with a criminal background.

Delhi Police have invoked Section 212 (harboring criminals) in their FIR and will be arresting Baney Singh and others for helping Bharti. As reported earlier, the police on Wednesday confirmed that Bharti confessed to wearing a skullcap and spectacles to dodge them.

Joint commissioner (southwestern range) Depender Pathak said on Wednesday, "We are struggling for his cooperation, but we are trying to get correct information. We will inform the court about these developments." Sources said he is "hostile and remorseless" and has threatened to take the police to court.

Investigators said that Bharti had called up Baney Singh from east Delhi and asked for help. He then went to Agra and stayed at his residence. "Singh then took Bharti to Lal Singh's house and introduced him as "Mantriji". They took Lal Singh's Alto saying they would return in half an hour but fled," a senior cop said.

Bharti's sister visited him on Wednesday evening and accused the cops of ill-treating him. "He is not being given basic amenities. He was denied even a pen and paper. He has become frail," she said.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Bharti was taken to his wife Lipika's residence.

He will also be taken to his Malviya Nagar house and his mother's residence in Vasant Vihar. Police are likely to seek extension of custody to take him to Agra and other places to collect evidence. They will also confront him with the dog and take teeth imprints to match it with the ones found on Bharti's wife.