Rae Bareli Court Declares Ex-Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti an 'Absconder' in 2021 Case
Rae Bareli (UP), Nov 7 – In a recent development, the MP-MLA Court in Rae Bareli has declared former Delhi Law and Justice Minister Somnath Bharti an absconder for his repeated failure to appear before the court in connection with a 2021 case. The court's decision comes after Bharti, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, allegedly misbehaved with police personnel at a guest house on Canal Road in Raebareli, leading to the registration of an FIR against him.
According to Special Public Prosecutor Sandeep Kumar Singh, Somnath Bharti failed to appear for a hearing on Tuesday, prompting Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Dr. Vivek Kumar to declare him an absconder on Thursday. In response, the court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Bharti and has also initiated proceedings under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which deals with "proclamation for person absconding".
The MP-MLA Court has directed Bharti to appear in person on November 13, warning that failure to comply may result in him being declared a fugitive and facing property seizure. Government advocate Sandeep Singh stated that Bharti had previously requested permission to attend court proceedings via video conferencing, but the court rejected this request, citing his violation of bail conditions by not appearing in person. Judge Dr. Vivek Kumar emphasized this point while issuing the non-bailable warrant and invoking Section 82 of the CrPC.
Bharti's lawyer, Surendra Singh Bhadauria, offered a different perspective, stating that the court had requested a copy of a CD submitted with the police investigation documents, but it was not provided. He added that a written request was submitted, and despite the denial of the virtual appearance plea, Bharti would comply with the court's latest order.
The case against Somnath Bharti dates back to 2021, when he allegedly misbehaved with police personnel at a guest house on Canal Road in Raebareli. An FIR was registered following the incident, and the case has been pending in the MP-MLA court since then.
Somnath Bharti, born on May 10, 1974, is an Indian politician and lawyer. He has served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Delhi from the Malviya Nagar constituency and has held various ministerial portfolios in the Delhi government, including Law, Tourism, Administrative Reforms, Art & Culture. Bharti is also a practicing lawyer in the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court.
This is not the first time Bharti has faced legal challenges. In 2021, he was sentenced to two years in prison for leading a mob into AIIMS Delhi, though the Delhi High Court stayed the judgment and granted him bail. He has also been embroiled in controversies, including allegations of domestic violence and a raid in Khirki Extension.
The next hearing in the 2021 case is scheduled for November 13, 2025, where Somnath Bharti's presence is mandatory. The court has made it clear that further absence will lead to serious consequences, including being declared a fugitive and potential property seizure.
