New Delhi : A court here Friday asked Delhi Police to get sanction to prosecute former state law minister Somnath Bharti in a case related to molestation of African women during his alleged midnight raid here last year.
Delhi Police’s investigating officer (IO) informed the court that the sanction to prosecute Bharti is still awaited from the competent authority.
Metropolitan Magistrate Ankita Lal posted the matter for hearing March 27 and said that one last opportunity is given to get sanction by next date of hearing.
The court also directed the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to expedite process for obtaining the sanction.
Bharti and others were chargesheeted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including outraging the modesty of women in the case, Sep 29, 2014.
Police lodged a first information report Jan 19 last year against “unknown accused” on the court’s direction and booked them for various charges dealing with wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and acts intended to outrage the modesty of a woman.
The court order came on a plea by an Ugandan woman who sought registration of an FIR against unknown people for creating a ruckus during the raid between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. in Khirki Extension here Jan 16 last year.
The minister had allegedly visited a house in Khirki Extension after receiving complaints about an alleged prostitution and drug racket in the area.