New Delhi:
Aam Aadmi Party legislator Somnath Bharati's pet labrador, Don, has made it clear to experts that he cares not for his master's commands.
A city court today said veterinary experts had made Mr Bharati give him commands - "Don come, Don bark, Don bite...Don sit down etc. but dog Don did not respond on his commands".
The court accordingly gave Don - who had allegedly bitten Mr Bharati's estranged wife Lipika Mitra - a clean chit.
Ms Mitra had alleged that Don had bitten her while she was pregnant on Mr Bharati's command. The police, accordingly, had claimed Don was "evidence", and got doctors from animal husbandry hospital to examine him.
Sources said the "evidence" was also part of the reason why Mr Bharati -- who has been accused of attempting to murder his wife and domestic violence -- got bail today in the case.
Additional Sessions Judge Anil Kumar said the evidence indicated that a few days after the alleged dog bite, the pet had remained at home and Ms Mitra was "concerned of the responsibilities of the dog" when Mr Bharati was not at home.
"Serious allegations made by the complainant are not in consonance with her recorded conversations with applicant," the court said.
The 12-year-old overweight yellow Labrador had stolen the limelight in the case ever since the police claimed he was crucial to establishing - at least partially -- Ms Mitra's charges against her husband.
Mr Bharati had made regular appearances at police station, with Don riding the backseat of his car. In front of cameras, he had even ordered Don to bite, which had gone unheeded.
While Don was oblivious of all the attention, Mr Bharati had claimed how it proved that no pet dog would attack a family member.
The 41-year-old former Delhi law minister had surrendered on September 28, after dodging the police for a week. His party chief, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, had finally urged him to stop embarrassing his family and the party and turn himself in.