Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti's attempt to carry out a surprise raid on what he alleged was a drug and prostitution ring has led to a major row between the minister and the Delhi Police.
The police allege Mr Bharti tried to force them to conduct a search late on Wednesday night without a warrant and question women, which is prohibited by the law after dark.
One of the women that the minister 'caught' in the raid, a Nigerian national, was sent for a medical test to the AIIMS hospital and has reportedly been found drug-free. The police have set up a probe and will report to Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung.
Mr Bharti said on receiving people's complaints about alleged sex trade at a building in Khirki Extension, which is in his constituency in south Delhi, he decided to go for a check, along with the police.
The minister says the police refused to search the building and, after an argument, left. But Mr Bharti went in with his team and caught two women.
"The police left us here. They didn't even listen to me, the law minister. Will they listen to people? The police investigation is a failure," Mr Bharti said.
"This is my area. I attend meetings to listen to people. They complained about Nigerian people who are involved in prostitution and drugs supply. When we reached there, girls tried to run away, we managed to stop two of them."
The AAP Law Minister has been in the news lately for more than one controversy. Two days ago, he fended off allegations that as a defence lawyer in a case last year, he had tampered with evidence.
Mr Bharti was also criticised for trying to call judges for a meeting just after taking charge last month, and berating his Law Secretary when told that the judiciary could not be summoned this way.
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