Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti is the man in the eye of a political storm in New Delhi right now. After facing severe criticism for his midnight raid at a house in Khirki Extension, the party has also faced flak for releasing a series of videos on its website that purport to show evidence of an alleged "drugs sex and drugs racket" but actually bear no proof of any illegal activity.
Bharti, however, has claimed that the police may have destroyed evidence as "they are all hand-in-glove in this drug and prostitution racket".
File photo of Somnath Bharti. AFP
In an interview with Outlook magazine, Bharti said the raid started with a decoy being sent in, who was asked to pay Rs 10,000 for a night with a woman. "What I saw inside made me feel like throwing up. There were many women in the house. The girls were all being lined up," he is quoted as having said.
He had no intention of targeting anyone on the basis of colour, he says, adding that he was only keen to see action against those buying and selling drugs. "Don't make me out to be anti-women or anti-Africans. I have a daughter too."
Before the mob entered the house, he says, a Maruti Omni van drove up with four girls inside. Bharti then claims the police refused to search the car as they did not have a warrant. "...I saw a constable open the van door... Perhaps he was destroying all sign of drugs in the car," he alleges.
On as to why he didn't let police investigate further, he says the policemen said they would take the girls to the police station, something he was not comfortable with because he "knew" what could happen subsequently. "They are all hand-in-glove in this drug and prostitution racket."
The police also agreed to take the car to AIIMS because it would give them time to empty the contents of the car, he says, adding that he believes that car had drugs and condoms in the glove box.
He also found a "trail of white fluid" in the car but the police refused to get a forensics test done on it, he said.
On Saturday, PTI reported that Bharti had also said his intentions were right and that had he been better aware of procedures, he could have avoided the controversy.
"I am not aware of procedures. If I would have known them, I would not have made these alleged mistakes," Bharti said while addressing lawyers on the eve of Republic Day at Saket district courts premises, reported PTI.
He said he had risked his own life in going for the midnight raid, something that is the "job of the police".
Bharti had earlier lashed out at media, asking one reporter: "How much did Modi pay you?" He later apologised for that comment.
You can read the entire Outlook article here
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