india

Updated: Nov 01, 2014 13:52 IST

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended a monetary relief of Rs. 25,000 each for 12 African women whose homes AAP leader Somnath Bharti had allegedly barged into during a midnight raid in Khirki Extension earlier this year.

The NHRC announced the compensation even as the Delhi Court waits to hear the case of alleged molestation and racial hatred that has been filed against the former Delhi law minister by the African women.

The commission, while announcing the compensation, stated that it believed that the human rights of the African women were violated and hence the case was fit for monetary relief.

The chief secretary of the Delhi government has been directed to submit a compliance report along with proof of payment within eight weeks.

In issuing the compensation, the commission relied upon the reports of retired additional district & sessions judge BL Garg and its own investigation team.

According to it, the AAP leader with his supporters humiliated the African women and wrongfully confined them in a vehicle on the ground that they were indulging in sex racket and drug trafficking. But when they were illegally searched by a lady doctor at AIIMS, no drug could be recovered, it added.

They were also abused racially.

When contacted, Somnath Bharti later issued a statement saying, “The NHRC had jumped to some unjustified conclusions without having followed the principles of natural justice and not getting his version of events.

“The matter is sub-judice and it is beyond any reasonable understanding that the NHRC has arrived at conclusions without waiting for the outcome of the court proceedings. I have filed an application seeking reinvestigation and a probe into the role of the police,” Bharti said.