DCW closes case against Vishwas over alleged illicit relation with female AAP member

New Delhi: The proceedings on a complaint against AAP leader Kumar Vishwas by a party volunteer alleging that her life was ruined as he was not rebutting "rumours" about their illicit liaison, have been closed by the Delhi women's panel, its chief told Delhi High Court on Wednesday.

Justice V P Vaish was told by Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Barkha Singh's counsel that "there are no proceedings pending in the case" before the body.

The DCW counsel further said that as the probe against Vishwas was closed on June 23, the present petition becomes "infructuous".

The court, which was hearing a plea by Vishwas seeking stay on the summons issued to him by DCW, however, directed the Chairperson's counsel to file a "detailed report within two weeks with regard to the oral submissions made by the advocate".

The Chairperson's response came in pursuance to the notice issued by the high court to her on May 22, as well as the DCW and the woman complainant.

Meanwhile, the court issued fresh notice to the complainant after it was informed that notice was not served to her as she was not residing at the given address.

"Delhi High Court Registry will serve the summons to the complainant by hand, at the new address provided," the court said and listed the matter for August 7.

The court was likely to dispose of the case as the proceedings were dropped against Vishwas but the same could not be done as Somnath Bharti, counsel for the AAP leader, sought a direction to restrain DCW chief from holding a press conference on the issue.

Bharti also contended that a stricture must be passed against the DCW and its Chairperson for misuse of office for political purposes and urged the court that a word of caution be issued that this forum (DCW) should not be misused.

To this, the counsel for DCW Chairperson said that her right cannot be curtailed. However, she said she would seek instruction on the issue raised by Bharti.

Bharti opposed the panel chief's request saying that Barkha Singh was retiring on July 18 and hence her counsel was seeking time.