‘Don’ walks free: Somnath Bharti’s dog gets clean chit in MLA’s domestic violence case

New Delhi: AAP MLA Somnath Bharti’s ‘Don’, his pet dog, was given the clean chit by a city court on Wednesday, which said the allegation of the canine biting his wife was unfounded. It observed that the recorded conversation regarding the alleged bite and the Labrador’s subsequent examination by the vets reflected versions different than the allegations of Bharti’s wife Lipika Mitra. “Perusal of the case diary, dated 30 September, show that examination of dog Don by the board of the doctors of animal husbandry hospital was conducted and applicant (Bharti) was directed to give commands to Don, ie, Don come, Don bark, Don bite…Don sit down etc. but dog Don did not respond on his commands,” Additional Sessions Judge Anil Kumar said. [caption id=“attachment_2460294” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Somnath Bharti’s dog ‘Don’. Screengrab from YouTube[/caption] He said that status report of police and copy of e-mails exchanged between Bharti and Lipika shows that only after a few days of the incident of alleged dog biting, the pet had remained in her house and she was “concerned of the responsibilities of the dog while applicant was not there.” “This taking care of dog by the complainant was despite the fact, as alleged by her, that this dog assaulted her just one-two days before, on the command of applicant (Bharti),” the court said. It further said “serious allegations made by the complainant are not in consonance with her recorded conversations with applicant. Recorded conversation on the point of dog bite and wrist slit reflect different versions”. Regarding the injuries on Lipika and her allegation of wrist sliting, the judge said “I have gone through the police file also and find no medical evidence in support of the incident of alleged wrist slit of night intervening 27-28 May 2015. There is only MLC dated 11 June, which only mentions about old cut marks but no external injury.” Lipika has alleged that the AAP leader had unleashed his pet on her during pregnancy and even slit her wrist with a kitchen knife. Based on these allegation, police had booked Bharti for attempt to murder charges under section 307 of IPC and other charges. Police had also examined Bharti’s pet to ascertain the allegation after taking it into custody. PTI