Delhi HC Seeks Police Report on Parvesh Verma Assault Plea
The Delhi High Court has asked for a status report following allegations that Minister Parvesh Verma slapped and assaulted a man during a road inspection.
The Delhi High Court has intervened in a high-profile legal battle following allegations of physical assault involving Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma. On Thursday, a bench comprising Justice Sachin Datta sought a formal status report from the Delhi Police regarding a petition filed by a man who claims he was slapped and assaulted by the Minister.
The Alleged Incident on Outer Ring Road
The petitioner, Sahib Singh, has detailed a harrowing encounter that allegedly took place on September 27. According to the plea, Singh was accompanying Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh during an inspection of road construction work along the Outer Ring Road in West Delhi. While Singh was recording the proceedings on his mobile phone, a confrontation reportedly erupted.
Singh alleges that the conflict began when questions were raised concerning the quality of the roadwork being conducted. In the heat of the argument, the petitioner claims that Minister Parvesh Verma slapped him. The situation reportedly escalated further, with Singh alleging that his mobile phone—which contained video evidence of the incident—was forcibly snatched and damaged. He further claims he was physically assaulted and threatened by individuals accompanying the Minister.
Demands for Protection and Independent Probe
The legal petition filed by Singh is not merely an accusation but a plea for urgent safeguards. The petitioner has requested several critical interventions from the court, including:
- Police Protection: Ensuring the safety of himself and his family following alleged threats.
- Evidence Preservation: The preservation of CCTV footage, PCR records, and electronic evidence from the relevant locations between September 25 and September 30.
- Independent Investigation: A demand that the probe be handled by an agency not connected to the police personnel against whom allegations have been made.
- Judicial Oversight: Alternatively, the petitioner has suggested the formation of an inquiry committee headed by a former Delhi High Court judge.
Allegations of Police Inaction and Threats
A significant portion of the plea focuses on the subsequent handling of the matter by law enforcement. Singh stated that he initially approached the Vikas Puri police station to lodge a complaint. However, he alleges that instead of registering a First Information Report (FIR), the police merely recorded a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) under Section 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Furthermore, the petitioner claims he has been targeted through digital channels, receiving threatening calls and messages via WhatsApp and social media. He is seeking a thorough investigation into the origins of these communications to identify those responsible for the intimidation.
While the respondent authorities have raised objections regarding the maintainability of the plea, the High Court has taken note of these arguments while demanding the status report from the Delhi Police. The petitioner maintains that he is not asking the court to immediately determine the guilt of the Minister, but is instead seeking a fair, impartial, and protected investigation into the events.