A "surprised" Lipika Mitra today thanked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for asking her husband and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti to "surrender" in a case of attempt to murder and domestic violence filed by her.


Police teams are looking for the Malviya Nagar MLA since yesterday after the Delhi High Court rejected his anticipatory bail in the case.


"It's good that the Chief Minister has finally spoken out albeit after taking so much time. I am grateful to him," Mitra said.


Expressing her surprise over Kejriwal's stand, she wondered why AAP made Bharti speak on a issue like 'women empowerment' during a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly in August.


"Considering they were defending him and made him speak on such issues I am definitely surprised that the Chief Minister has taken this stand... He should act as a CM first and friend later," she said.


On being told that Bharti was avoiding arrest as he may appeal in the Supreme Court, Mitra said, "Whoever is advising him is definitely not his well-wisher. Police is doing what it can. He should come out and cooperate with police," she said.