A Delhi court on Monday dismissed a petition by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti seeking a further investigation into the alleged assault of African women, in which he is an accused, PTI reported. The case is four years old.

The court said Bharti would get the opportunity to defend himself during the trial against him. The Malviya Nagar MLA said he would appeal against the verdict.

In January 2014, weeks after the Aam Aadmi Party first came to power in Delhi, Bharti and his supporters were accused of assaulting several African women during a raid on a suspected drug and prostitution ring in the Khirki Extension locality. Bharti, a legislator from Malaviya Nagar, was then law minister in the government. He denied the charges.

In his petition, Bharti said police had suppressed several facts from the court which needed investigation, and said he was falsely implicated. In a chargesheet in September 2014, the Delhi Police said “nine African women were victims of molestation and manhandling by a mob led by then Law Minister Somnath Bharti”.

On Monday, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said the points Bharti wanted investigated further were not relevant for the purpose of prosecution.

“Whether the applicant is innocent or is guilty shall be the subject matter of trial,” the court said. “The applicant will get a full opportunity to prove his defence after the prosecution evidence is over.”