New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS): Delhi police told a court here on Tuesday that it would try to identify the people who harboured former law minister Somnath Bharti, arrested in a domestic violence case registered by his wife, while he was absconding.

Bharti was on the run soon after police registered a first information report against him on September 10. He made a sudden appearance in the wee hours on September 16 at a city police station after the High Court granted him interim protection.

On September 22, the Delhi court rejected his anticipatory bail and thereafter he was avoiding arrest. A magistrate court on September 14 issued non-bailable warrant against Bharti.

After the warrant Bharti was on the run, Special Public Prosecutor Shailendra Babbar told Metropolitan Magistrate Manika while seeking his police custody.

The prosecutor said it was learnt that Bharti took shelter with Bane Singh, a man wanted in various cases in Delhi, while hiding in Uttar Pradesh.

He said it needs to be ascertained who else sheltered Bharti while he was absconding.

The court on Tuesday allowed Delhi Police to quiz Bharti, the Aam Aadmi Party legislator from Malviya Nagar here, till Thursday.

Bharti, who surrendered to police on Monday evening, was named in an FIR following a June 10 complaint by his wife, who said he had been abusing her since their marriage in 2010.

She claimed Bharti used to beat and torture her and once even tried to kill her.

Bharti has been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to attempt to murder, cruelty towards wife, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon, criminal breach of trust, attempt to cause miscarriage without woman's consent, cheating and criminal intimidation.