NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) against PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma under charges of voluntarily causing hurt in connection with the alleged slapping of a man during a road inspection in west Delhi, officials said on Monday.The development comes after police said they had received five complaints linked to the controversy but had not registered an FIR.The NCR was registered on the complaint of Saheb Singh, an associate of AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, who had accused Verma of slapping him during the road inspection, according to police.The complaint was filed after a video of the incident circulated on social media, showing Verma pulling down Singh’s mobile phone before appearing to slap him.Singh had said he was recording the inspection when the incident occurred.
What happened during road inspection
The controversy erupted when Verma was inspecting a newly laid road in the Vikaspuri-Tilak Nagar area. Jarnail Singh had questioned the quality of the road and pulled out portions of its surface, while Singh recorded the proceedings on his phone.Singh later told TOI that he had been at the spot after the PWD department called them to inspect the road and that he had shown Verma how the road surface was breaking apart. He also alleged that the minister’s associates threatened him.
Verma’s response
Verma has disputed the allegations and said the video being circulated did not show the full context of the incident.He alleged that supporters of Jarnail Singh abused his family during the inspection and said he reacted in the heat of the moment.He also accused the MLA of pressuring PWD engineers over the road project and seeking a commission from the contractor.The Delhi BJP has defended Verma while expressing regret over the incident. Party media head Praveen Shankar Kapoor also claimed that Singh was a “habitual offender” and alleged that Jarnail Singh had brought around 50 supporters to the inspection.
Saheb Singh’s earlier case
Police have also said that an assault case had previously been registered against Singh in connection with an MCD employee. According to police, the earlier incident was captured on CCTV and Singh had been arrested before being released on bail.Police said Singh manages the social media accounts of Jarnail Singh.The NCR means the latest police action against Verma in the row is at the non-cognisable report stage, while the other complaints submitted in connection with the confrontation are also under investigation.(With PTI inputs)
