My wife being misused for political ends, says AAP leader Somnath Bharti

New Delhi: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti on Wednesday said that his wife Lipika Mitra, who has filed a case of attempt to murder and domestic violence against him, was being "misused" for political ends by rival parties taking advantage of her "gullibility".

He also accused the Delhi Police of working at the Centre's "behest" saying it is not "responding" to his offer of joining investigation and wanted to "torture" him in custody instead.

"It's absolutely a matrimonial affair. She (Mitra) is being misused for political purposes. Political parties have ganged up against me, attempting to damage my party (AAP) through me taking advantage of her innocence and gullibility," Bharti said.

He refuted the charges against him saying he was ready with a point-by-point rebuttal based on solid evidences.

Hours after the Delhi High Court provided a two-day reprieve to him from arrest, Bharti had showed up at the Dwarka North Police Station with his dog seeking the investigating officer's presence last night.

However, Bharti and his dog were sent back home by police officials who said that the investigating officer was not present at the moment.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Dependra Pathak said the police is looking for Bharti's "custodial interrogation", which is not possible till tomorrow in view of the HC order.

"What for do they need custodial interrogation when I am ready to cooperate with the investigation? That is why I am saying that Narendra Modiji's police is taking revenge. They want to torture me," Bharti said.

Responding to Bharti's allegations, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said that Bharti should have rather joined the probe and introspect about what compelled his wife to get an FIR registered against him.

"It is sad that Somnath Bharti is hurling such allegations on Delhi Police and his wife. It is possible that in future he starts questioning the strictness of the law in dealing with cases of crime against women," said Bassi.

Meanwhile, through a series of tweets, the Malviya Nagar MLA and the former Delhi Law Minister urged the police commissioner to let him know where to go to "join investigation".

"No respnse 4m pol on my written submission dat I m available 24/7 4 investigation. Called Mr. Pathak, Jt CP, Mr. Mishra, Spl CP...n Insp. Dhiraj Kumar, IO of the case but no one has responded till now," (sic) Bharti wrote on Twitter.

Bharti also took on Bassi alleging that the latter was passing "political statements". "...at whose behest. Modi ji? and for what consideration, securing BJP seat post retirement?"

"DP seems 2 hv no interest in doing investigation bt ws interested in wrking at PMO behest 2 send pol across nation 2 arrest me 2 plz modi ji...for friends who are saying that I was absconding for 3 days, plz understand that provision of anticipatory bail is 4 such occasions only," he said.

Yesterday, a team of police officials led by an inspector posted at Dwarka North police station was sent to arrest Bharti at Agra, where he was last tracked living at an associate's residence, police said.