New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) 

A Delhi court Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) parliamentarian Dhananjay Singh, accused of destroying evidence to shield his wife, arrested for torturing her maid leading to her death.

The court also directed Delhi Police to provide protection to the witnesses. 

Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha said: "In view of the previous conducts and antecedents of accused Dhananjay Singh, he does not deserve any leniency by this court." She added that keeping circumstance of the case in fact, the court is not inclined to grant bail to him. 

The court also took into account the protection of key witnesses who are weak and vulnerable as compared to Dhananjay Singh, who is powerful, and ordered Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) S.B.S. Tyagi to provide protection to them. 

"A copy of the order to be sent to the DCP, New Delhi, to provide protection to the principal witnesses Ram Lal and Meena till the time recording of their evidence is concluded," the court said. 

Dhananjay Singh, who represents the Jaunpur Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested and booked for destroying evidence and violating the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

His wife Jagriti was booked for murder, attempt to murder and for violating the Juvenile Justice Act.

Jagriti allegedly beat and tortured her maid Rakhi, 35, and another help, 17, for days. Rakhi died later at Jagriti's home.