In a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti, the Patiala House Court today ordered framing of charges against him for the controversial 2014 midnight raid in Khirki extension. In December 2014, the Delhi High Court had set aside an order holding Bharti guilty of racial prejudice.

According to media reports, in January 2014, some residents from Khirkee Extension had complained to Bharti about a drug and prostitution racket allegedly being run by African nationals in the locality. Bharti along with AAP workers and television camera crews visited the area and asked the police to raid the homes rented by the African nationals.

However, citing a lack of a warrant, the police refused to do so, following which the group allegedly caught four women and forced them to give urine tests. According to the test results, no drug traces were found in their system.

Around five foreign women had registered their complaint against him and recorded their statements before a magistrate in which they alleged that they were threatened and molested by the mob after Bharti barged into their house along with his supporters. The AAP had defended Bharti and said that all the allegations against him were false. The party also stated that his actions were not racist. 

Somnath Bharti was elected as the AAP candidate from Malviya Nagar constituency in the Delhi state assembly elections, 2013 and was Minister of Law, Tourism, Administrative Reforms, Art & Culture in the Government of Delhi.