Somnath Bharti

Bharti was born in Baranwal Bania family at Hisua Bazar in Nawada.{{Cite news|date=20 January 2019|title=Live from Bapu Shabhagar of Baranwal Mahasamelan|work=News4Nation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgrtLE59a0Y}} He was educated firstly at a local school and went to Patna for intermediate education.{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihars-pappu-named-minister-in-delhi-government/441545-3-232.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227231232/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihars-pappu-named-minister-in-delhi-government/441545-3-232.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-12-27|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18}} After completing his post-graduate M.Sc. Mathematics from IIT Delhi, Bharti pursued a degree in law at Delhi University.{{cite news | url=http://www.nritoday.net/washington-diary/42-indian-student-in-chicago-jail-alleges-taunts-and-abuse- | title= Indian student in Chicago jail alleges taunts and abuse | work= NRI Today | year= 2009 | accessdate=26 September 2013}} He served IIT Delhi Alumni Association as its Secretary for 2007-08 and 2011–12, as a President of IIT DAA in 2012-13 and as IIT Delhi Senator in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/political-leaders/somnath-bharti.html |title=Somnath Bharti Biography |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=17 May 2018}}[http://somnathbharti.com/bio/early-life-and-background/ Early life and background | SomnathBharti.com]

In the 2000s, Somnath Bharti ran a Delhi-based IT firm Madgen Solutions. The Spamhaus Project accused him of spamming on behalf of TopSites LLC, naming him in Register of Known Spam Operations (ROKSO) as one of the top spam operators in the world.{{cite web | url = http://www.spamevidence.com/cruise.com/depos/misc-docs/ROKSO-200-worst-spammers.pdf | title = The ROKSO List: 200 Known Spam Operations responsible for 80% of your spam | publisher = SpamHaus | date = 14 June 2005 }}{{cite news | url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/somnath-bharti-at-the-root-of-disenchantment-with-aap/articleshow/29274071.cms | title = Somnath Bharti at the root of disenchantment with AAP | date = 24 January 2014 | newspaper = Economic Times }} According to Bharti, he was listed in ROKSO after an Open Directory Project editor Conrad Longmore ran a story on him.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcquest.com/top-spammer/ | title = Top spammer? | publisher = PCQuest | date = 4 August 2005 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.dynamoo.com/diary/topsites_topsitez_us_part_5.htm | title = Topsites Revisited | author = Conrad Longmore | accessdate = 21 January 2014 | publisher = Dynamoo }} Responding to a PCQuest investigation in 2005, he insisted that all the e-mails sent by his company complied with the laws and regulations. PCQuest found that he had been sued in a California Superior Court for spamming by Daniel Balsam. Balsam's attorney Timothy Walton revealed that in 2004, Bharti and two others had paid Balsam in damages apart from making a court declaration agreeing to use only confirmed opt-in e-mail addresses when sending commercial e-mails. Bharti defended himself by saying that he chose to settle because defending the case in the United States would have been costlier for him. Bharti also claimed that he was in touch with SpamHaus, but the SpamHaus CEO Steve Linford denied this to PCQuest.

In 2009 Bharti represented Vikram Buddhi. He led a movement against the abeyance of sentencing of Buddhi in the USA.

In 2013, Delhi High Court quashed the FIR and released 8 accused falsely charges in the Constable Tomar's death during the Nirbhaya protests. Advocate He has sought the quashing of the FIR against the eight accused on the grounds that they have been falsely implicated by the Delhi Police for offences during the public protests that erupted after the Delhi gangrape.{{cite news |date=13 March 2013 |title=Why were innocents charged with Constable Tomar's death? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/why-were-innocents-charged-with-constable-tomars-death-659287.html |work=Firstpost |language=en-us}}

Advocate Somnath Bharti, appearing for the accused, told the court that according to the video footage of news channels and two witnesses, the accused were innocent.{{cite news |date=4 January 2013 |title=HC notice to Centre, Delhi govt on constable Tomar's death |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/delhi-gangrape-notice-to-centre-delhi-on-arrest-of-eight-for-constable-tomar-death-150777-2013-01-03 |work=India Today |language=en}}

In June 2012, Bharti was involved in a campaign against the alleged interference of the then Minister of Human Resources and Development, Kapil Sibal, in the Joint Entrance Examination process for admission to Indian Institutes of Technology.

In 2010–2013, he appeared in news for defending the rights of homeschooled children and subscribers of alternate education system in view of the binding provision of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act through Public Interest Litigations filed in Delhi High Court thrice. In response to his PILs, the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, through an affidavit, clarified that they are not against homeschooling.{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-03-14/news/31169160_1_rte-provisions-open-schooling-rte-act | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319023636/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-03-14/news/31169160_1_rte-provisions-open-schooling-rte-act | url-status=dead | archive-date=19 March 2012 | title= Notice to government on plea for amendment to Right To Education Act | work=The Economic Times | date= 14 March 2012 | accessdate=30 May 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rte-not-against-home-schooling-and-alternate-education-mhrd/976880/ | title=RTE not against home schooling and alternate education: MHRD | work= The Indian Express | date= 20 July 2012 | accessdate=30 May 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/we-don-t-need-no-education/628613/ | title=We don't need no education | work= The Indian Express | date= 3 June 2010 | accessdate=30 May 2013}}

File:Somnath Bharti on Election Campaign.jpg

Bharti was the Aam Aadmi Party candidate for the Malviya Nagar constituency in the Delhi state assembly elections, 2013.{{cite news |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=800849 |title=Delhi Polls: AAP Releases First List of 11 Candidates |publisher=Outlook |date=15 June 2013 |accessdate=16 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620055944/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=800849 |archive-date=20 June 2013 }} Bharti won the seat, defeating Arti Mehra of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the incumbent Kiran Walia of the Indian National Congress.{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131208/news-current-affairs/article/delhi-polls-several-heavyweight-cong-bjp-leaders-bite-dust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209025406/http://deccanchronicle.com/131208/news-current-affairs/article/delhi-polls-several-heavyweight-cong-bjp-leaders-bite-dust |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 December 2013 |title=Delhi polls: Several heavyweight Cong, BJP leaders bite dust |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=8 December 2013 |accessdate=13 December 2013}} Walia had won the seat in 1999, 2003, and 2008{{cite web|url=http://delhiassembly.nic.in/aspfile/whos_who/kiran.htm |title=Name |publisher=Delhiassembly.nic.in |date=28 October 1944 |accessdate=13 December 2013}} and had been education minister in the earlier government, while Mehra, who has represented the neighbouring Hauz Khas constituency for many years, had been Mayor of Delhi in 2007–2009. In contrast, Bharti was new to politics.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/12/08/why-the-aam-aadmi-partys-victory-is-a-big-deal-for-india/ |title=Why the Aam Aadmi Party's Victory in Delhi Elections Is a Big Deal - India Real Time - WSJ |publisher=Blogs.wsj.com |date=8 December 2013 |accessdate=13 December 2013}}

He served as Chairman, Committee on Privileges of Delhi Legislative Assembly for the year 2016–17.{{cite web|url=http://delhiassembly.nic.in/Committee/Committee_2016_2017.htm|title=Somnath Bharti appointed as Chairman, Committee on Privileges of Delhi Legislative Assembly for the year 2016-17|website=Delhi Legislative Assembly}} On 10 August 2018, Delhi Legislative Assembly appointed him as chairman, Committee to examine the Stray Dog and Monkey Menace in Delhi.{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/five-member-panel-to-deal-with-menace-of-stray-dogs-monkeys-in-delhi-1898658|title=Five Member Panel To Deal With Menace Of Stray Dogs, Monkeys In Delhi|website=NDTV | date = 10 Aug 2018}} He won the 2020 Delhi Elections by 18,144 votes.{{cite news |title=Malviya Nagar assembly election result 2020: Somnath Bharti wins by 18,144 votes {{!}} Delhi News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/malviya-nagar-assembly-election-result-2020-somnath-bharti-neetu-verma/articleshow/74072996.cms |accessdate=12 February 2020 |work=The Times of India |publisher=Times of India |date=11 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/delhi-assembly-elections-malviya-nagar-to-see-tight-contest-among-aap-bjp-and-congress-2460865.html|title=Delhi Assembly Elections: Malviya Nagar to See Tight Contest among AAP, BJP and Congress|website=News18|date=16 January 2020 }} By Delhi Legislative Assembly he was appointed Chairman, Public Accounts Committee{{Cite web|title=Delhi Assembly Committees|url=http://delhiassembly.nic.in/Committee/Committee_2020_2021.htm|access-date=2021-02-24|website=delhiassembly.nic.in}} (one of the three most important Committees of a legislative assembly or Indian Parliament viz. Public Accounts Committee, [http://delhiassembly.nic.in/comitteeconst.htm Committee on Govt Undertakings and Committee on Estimates]), Chairman, House Committee on Violation of Protocol Norms and Contemptuous Behaviour By Government Officers with MLAs, Members of Standing Committee on Education (Education; Higher Education; Training & Technical Education; Art, Culture and Language; Sports) and Committee on Govt Undertakings.

Bharti was briefly Minister of Law, Tourism, Administrative Reforms, Art & Culture in the Government of Delhi. He was appointed on 28 December 2013 and left office on 14 February 2014 when the government of which he was a part resigned due a failure to enact a Jan Lokpal bill.{{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/people/know-your-delhi-minister-somnath-bharti-463981 | title= Know your Delhi minister: Somnath Bharti| work= NDTV | date= 28 December 2013 | accessdate=9 January 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-26192983 |publisher=BBC |title=Delhi anti-corruption chief minister Arvind Kejriwal quits |accessdate=18 February 2014}}

The government's resignation, led by Arvind Kejriwal, pre-empted a personal resignation by Bharti in response to accusations of vigilantism.{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/452311/was-ready-with-resignation-in-delhi-assembly-somnath-bharti.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222200652/http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/452311/was-ready-with-resignation-in-delhi-assembly-somnath-bharti.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2014 |publisher=CNN-IBN |title=Was ready with resignation in Delhi Assembly: Somnath Bharti |first=Rupashree |last=Nanda |date=16 February 2014 |accessdate=18 February 2014}}

He was elected again by the people of Malviya Nagar constituency in Feb 2015 by double the margin than the last time when Delhi gave mandate of 67 out of 70 seats in Delhi assembly to AAP. He was sent to Delhi Development Authority as a member of the Board which controls Land and development of Delhi. His work can be gauged from the fact that his efforts and continuous efforts made DDA claim their unclaimed and open to encroachers over 65000 pieces of lands across Delhi.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/16488/A-Timeline-of-the-Aam-Aadmi-Partys-Years-in-Government|title=A Timeline of the Aam Aadmi Party's Years in Government|website=thecitizen|date=16 March 2019 }}

He was appointed Vice Chairman of Delhi Jal Board in March 2023.{{cite news |date=11 March 2023 |title=Somnath Bharti to replace Saurabh Bharadwaj as Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/somnath-bharti-to-replace-saurabh-bharadwaj-as-delhi-jal-board-vice-chairman/articleshow/98556560.cms |work=The Times of India}}

Bharti started a direct dialogue program using the term "mohalla groups" on WhatsApp after being elected as MLA from Malviya Nagar constituency.{{cite web |title=Mohalla Sabha – Bridging The Gap Foundation |url=https://bridgingthegap.foundation/mohalla-sabha/ |website=bridgingthegap.foundation}}

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Patiala House Court had in 2013 indicted Bharti for "tampering with evidence" along with his client, Pawan Kumar, in a corruption case.{{cite news |date=14 January 2014 |title=Trouble for AAP: Did Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti tamper with evidence? |url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/trouble-for-aap-did-delhi-law-minister-somnath-bharti-tamper-with-evidence-1338699.html |accessdate=22 January 2014}} He was asked by the Bar Council of Delhi to explain why he should not be debarred.{{cite news |date=20 January 2014 |title=Somnath Bharti issued show-cause notice by Bar council of Delhi for tampering evidence |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-somnath-bharti-issued-show-cause-notice-by-bar-council-of-delhi-for-tampering-evidence-1954271 |accessdate=22 January 2014 |newspaper=DNA}}

In January 2014, less than a month after being elected, Bharti mobilized his supporters and television camera crews to lead a vigilante raid in his constituency's Khirki Extension area. He had been tipped off about a drug and prostitution racket involving some African nationals operating in the area. He quarrelled with the Station House Officer, who refused to raid a house, citing a lack of a warrant. The group allegedly caught four women and forced them to undergo urine tests. The tests, conducted at AIIMS, did not find any drug traces in their system. The women alleged that they had been threatened and molested by the mob.{{cite news |date=24 January 2014 |title=AAP minister Somnath Bharti's top 6 controversies |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-01-24/delhi/46561571_1_saket-court-law-minister-african-women |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140127040846/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-01-24/delhi/46561571_1_saket-court-law-minister-african-women |archive-date=27 January 2014 |newspaper=The Times of India}}

Protests were held against Bharti and AAP's attack on African Nationals.{{Cite web |title=Protest Against AAP |url=https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=150136611&highlights=SOmNATH%20CHATTERJEE}} The BJP and CPM condemned Bharti's actions as racist and criticized the mob for violating the women.{{Cite news |date=2014-01-21 |title=Arvind Kejriwal defending use of 'racist' language by minister: CPM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/arvind-kejriwal-defending-use-of-racist-language-by-minister-cpm/articleshow/29160099.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126160643/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/arvind-kejriwal-defending-use-of-racist-language-by-minister-cpm/articleshow/29160099.cms |archive-date=2014-01-26 |access-date=2024-09-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite news |date=2014-01-19 |title=BJP accuses Somnath Bharti of racism |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-accuses-somnath-bharti-of-racism/article5593532.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601025326/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-accuses-somnath-bharti-of-racism/article5593532.ece |archive-date=2014-06-01 |access-date=2024-09-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} AAP supported Bharti, calling the women's allegations false and stating that his actions were not racist, adding that residents had long complained of criminal activities in the area. Kejriwal demanded the suspension of the police officers who had refused to conduct the raid. A court directed the police to lodge a First Information Report against the mob, and the Delhi Commission for Women also opened an investigation into the matter.{{cite news |date=24 January 2014 |title=Somnath Bharti to appear before DCW; PIL against AAP dharna in SC |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/somnath-bharti-to-appear-before-dcw-pil-against-aap-dharna-in-sc_906442.html |publisher=Zee News}} Kejriwal's government came under increasing political pressure to act against Bharti in the hours before its resignation.{{cite news |date=13 February 2014 |title=Unruly scenes in Delhi Assembly, bangles, lipstick hurled at Somnath Bharti |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/in-delhi-assembly-bangles-lipstick-hurled-at-somnath-bharti/1/343338.html |accessdate=18 February 2014 |publisher=India Today Online}} An independent judicial inquiry ordered by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi announced on 28 February 2014 that the police had been correct not to comply with Bharti's demands and that Bharti should not have taken the law into his own hands by leading the raid.{{cite news |date=4 March 2014 |title=AAP MLA Somnath Bharti indicted in Malviya Nagar midnight raid |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/somnath-bharti-former-delhi-law-minister-khirki-extension-midnight-raid/1/346388.html}}

Around two years later, The Hindu reported that the raid led to an "exodus" of African nationals from the area, and emboldened the locals to abuse and taunt the remaining ones more freely.{{Cite news |last=Sunny |first=Shiv |date=2016-06-05 |title=Africans fearful, locals defiant |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Africans-fearful-locals-defiant/article14386943.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528063921/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/Africans-fearful-locals-defiant/article14386943.ece |archive-date=2023-05-28 |access-date=2024-09-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

In June 2015, Bharti's wife filed a complaint against him with the Delhi Commission for Women alleging domestic violence. On 10 September 2015, Bharti surrendered at the Dwarka Police Station late at night on 29 September 2015 under directions from the Supreme Court and obtained conditional bail.{{cite web |date=8 October 2015 |title=Domestic violence case: Bail for AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, clean chit for his dog Don |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/attempt-to-murder-case-delhi-court-grants-bail-to-aap-mla-somnath-bharti/}}{{cite news |title=Somnath Bharti faces arrest as HC denies anticipatory bail |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/somnath-bharti-faces-arrest-as-hc-denies-anticipatory-bail/article7677179.ece |accessdate=17 May 2018 |work=The Hindu}}{{cite news |date=22 September 2015 |title=Bharti evading arrest; residence, office raided: Police |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bharti-evading-arrest-residence-office-raided-police-115092200710_1.html |accessdate=17 May 2018 |work=Business Standard |agency=PTI}} Bharti told a Delhi court that the couple had resolved the matrimonial dispute through mediation, however the court charged him with harassment, cheating and criminal intimidation. In May 2019, the FIR was quashed by Delhi High Court which noted that the couple are living happily together.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/delhi-high-court-quashes-fir-accusing-aap-mla-somnath-bharti-of-domestic-violence/cid/1690091/|title=Delhi High Court quashes FIR accusing AAP MLA Somnath Bharti of domestic violence|date=7 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-somnath-bharti-wife-living-happily-together-delhi-hc-quashes-domestic-violence-case/329972|title='Somnath Bharti, Wife Living Happily Together': Delhi HC Quashes Domestic Violence Case|date=7 May 2019}}

In 2021, he was sentenced to two years in prison for leading a mob into AIIMS Delhi.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-24 |title=AAP's Somnath Bharti sent to jail for two years as court upholds sentence |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/aaps-somnath-bharti-sent-to-jail-for-two-years-as-court-upholds-sentence-7242085/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Bharti claimed that there was no evidence and the case was based on a fabricated story. Subsequently, the Delhi High Court stayed the judgment and granted him bail.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=25 March 2021 |title=HC stays AAP MLA Somnath Bharti's conviction, jail term; grants him bail |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/hc-stays-aap-mla-somnath-bharti-s-conviction-jail-term-grants-him-bail-101616610607334.html |work=The Hindustan Times}}

== References ==

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Category:1974 births

Category:IIT Delhi alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Delhi MLAs 2013–2015

Category:Delhi MLAs 2015–2020

Category:Delhi MLAs 2020–2025

Category:Aam Aadmi Party MLAs from Delhi

Category:Inmates of Tihar Jail

Category:People from Nawada district