HC seeks response from police, deputy CM

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought the response of the city police and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma on a plea seeking an independent probe into the incident where the leader allegedly slapped an AAP worker. Justice Sachin Datta issued a notice on the petition and asked the police to file a status report.

The court also asked Verma to file his reply to the plea. During the brief hearing, the counsel for the police raised objection to the maintainability of the petition, which also sought police protection for petitioner Sahib Singh and his family members.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 17. Verma, who is the Public Works Department (PWD) minister of Delhi, had allegedly slapped a man during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar on September 27. Sahib Singh, the person whom the minister allegedly slapped, claims to be an associate of Tilak Nagar AAP MLA Jarnail Singh. He claimed that he handles the AAP MLA’s social media accounts.

The petitioner sought protection of his life and liberty, preservation of CCTV and electronic evidence and an independent investigation into his allegations of assault, threats and police inaction. He claimed that he submitted a detailed complaint to the police commissioner on September 29, setting out the details and seeking fair and impartial investigation, legal action and protection for himself and his family.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hailed the High Court’s notice to PWD Minister for slapping a youth during a road inspection and demanded an independent inquiry. AAP Delhi Unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj also said that the Delhi Police has not registered an FIR till now in the matter. “Independent enquiry in Parvesh Verma slapping incident is a must. Delhi Police is so biased that they have not even registered FIR against Verma,” Bharadwaj said on X.