New Delhi: Expressing surprise over Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Delhi police against AAP MLA Somnath Bharti in a domestic violence case lodged by his wife, Aam Aadmi Party on Friday lashed out at the Centre saying this was proof of its involvement in Delhi’s affairs.
AAP leader Ashutosh questioned Rohatgi’s opposition to Bharti’s anticipatory bail plea in the case, saying a person holding constitutional post was appearing in a matrimonial matter.
In the case heard yesterday, the apex court had said Bharti’s plea had become infructuous after his surrender. His submission questioning the police proceedings was opposed by Rohatgi, who was appearing for Delhi Police.
In a jibe, Ashutosh also said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also a senior lawyer, should appear in the case as the matter is related to “national interest”.
“Mukul Rohtagi was present in the court for a hearing of an MLA who has been arrested in a domestic violence case. Is Somnath Bharti’s case related to constitution of the country? Does it involve any major legal riddle that the Attorney General had to represent before the court?
“AG represents cases related to constitutional matters. What interest did the Centre have that Mukul Rohatgi had to attend a case related to matrimonial dispute? Isn’t this a proof of Centre’s interference in the affairs of Delhi? On whose instructions did they come? The Delhi Police does not have that much courage to ask the AG to appear in this case,” he said.
Ashutosh also asked Jaitley to “stop playing behind the
scene” and appear in the case himself.
“Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru donned his lawyer’s robe and represented the (soldiers of the) Indian National Army since it was matter of national importance. Similarly, Arun Jaitley should also do the same and not play behind the scene,” he said.
Ashutosh also noted that the instance of Rohatgi, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing together before the court in such a case is rare.
“I want to know when was the last time that the three (AG, Solicitor General and Additional Soliticor General) appeared together. Did they do it in the Italian Marines case or the black money case, because these issues are important nationally or internationally and the government has a lot of stakes?” he asked.
PTI