A road-quality dispute in west Delhi has escalated into a legal and political confrontation, with an NCR against PWD Minister Parvesh Verma over an alleged slap and an FIR against AAP MLA Jarnail Singh for allegedly obstructing government officials.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI, September 28: A road-quality dispute in west Delhi has turned into a political and legal confrontation, with police registering an NCR against PWD Minister Parvesh Verma over the alleged slapping of a man and an FIR against AAP MLA Jarnail Singh for allegedly obstructing government officials during the same inspection.
The twin police actions followed a confrontation on Sunday at Tilak Nagar, where Verma was inspecting repair work on a stretch of the Outer Ring Road and Jarnail Singh was questioning the quality of the newly laid road surface.
The NCR against Verma was registered under Section 115 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to voluntarily causing hurt, on the basis of a complaint by Sahib Singh, who alleged that the minister slapped him.
A video of the confrontation has circulated widely on social media. It appears to show Verma confronting Singh, who was filming the inspection, before slapping him. Singh had reportedly pulled out portions of the newly laid road surface with his hand to demonstrate what he claimed was poor construction quality.
The police action against Verma is a non-cognisable proceeding and is therefore different from an FIR. Police cannot ordinarily investigate a non-cognisable offence without an order from a magistrate and cannot make an arrest without a warrant.
READ: Former Nepal Chief Justice Taken From Home at Midnight, Held 12 Hours
The FIR against Jarnail Singh was registered on the basis of a complaint by the Delhi Public Works Department. PWD officials have alleged that the AAP MLA and those accompanying him obstructed government personnel in the discharge of their duties and intimidated or threatened officials at the site.
Jarnail Singh had challenged the quality of the road work and alleged that the newly laid surface was substandard. His intervention at the site preceded the confrontation involving Verma and Singh.
Verma has defended his actions, saying he would not allow AAP workers to obstruct officials carrying out government work. He has also alleged that Sahib Singh was associated with the AAP and had a previous criminal case. That earlier case is separate from the present police proceedings.
The incident has triggered a political backlash, with opposition parties targeting Verma over the video while the BJP has defended the minister and highlighted the allegations against Jarnail Singh and his associates.
The two police proceedings now place the minister and the AAP MLA on opposite sides of the same confrontation — an NCR over alleged physical assault against Verma and an FIR alleging obstruction of government officials against Jarnail Singh.
Police are examining the competing allegations and are expected to determine further action on the basis of their inquiry.
