Aam Aadmi Party today ruled any action against Somnath Bharti even as pressure mounted on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for removal of the controversial law minister for allegedly leading a group of assaulters in a mid-night raid in South Delhi last week.
Notwithstanding growing chorus for Bharti's sacking from Congress, BJP and other quarters, Kejriwal "has not changed" his position on the issue and is unlikely to take any action against the minister before completion of a judicial probe into the case, sources said.
Hardening stand against Bharti, a Congress delegation today met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and asked him to direct the police to take immediate action against the minister as he was "not above law of the land".
"Delhi Police is not probing the case thoroughly. We have demanded the Lt Governor to direct Delhi Police to proceed as per law in this case. The Law Minister is not above the law. Whatever legal action is to be taken, should be taken. The LG has assured us of a fair probe," DPCC Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, whose party is giving outside support to AAP government, told reporters after the meeting.
The Chief Minister also had a meeting with Jung in the morning but when asked about it he said the Bharti issue was not discussed. "It was a routine meeting," he said.
The Law Minister was involved in a row with the police last week when they refused to raid a suspected drug and prostitution racket following which he allegedly led his supporters in forcing the women to give urine samples.
Three foreign women have till date recorded their statements before a magistrate, in which they have stated that Bharti, the MLA from Malviya Nagar, had barged into their house along with his supporters on the intervening night of January 15-16, according to court sources.
Delhi police has already registered a case on January 19 against unknown persons on a plea.
