Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma Slaps Youth During Tilak Nagar Road Inspection, Sparks Political Row

The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma slapped a youth who was recording a video during a road inspection in Tilak Nagar.

AAP shared a video of the alleged incident on social media, claiming the minister lost his temper after local residents and party workers questioned the quality of a newly constructed road.

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also reposted the video and called for Verma’s arrest, saying he would visit the spot the following day.

Victim Alleges Assault, Threats During Road Inspection

Saheb, the alleged victim, said he handled the MLA’s social media activities and had gone to the spot after the PWD department called them to inspect the condition of the road. He alleged that he showed the minister how the road surface was breaking apart, following which Verma allegedly lost his temper and raised his hand against him. Saheb further alleged that the minister’s associates threatened to kill him and said the police were present at the spot when the incident took place.

He demanded an apology from the minister and called for disciplinary action, including suspension if required. Saheb said the allegations were backed by video evidence and added that an FIR had been lodged and further legal action would be pursued.

AAP alleges road quality row

AAP alleged that local residents had raised questions over the quality of the PWD road in Tilak Nagar. The party claimed Verma visited the area to inspect the road after the issue was raised publicly.

According to AAP, the minister challenged the local MLA and residents to demonstrate how the road was allegedly of poor quality.

The party claimed that the asphalt surface was subsequently broken by hand, after which Verma allegedly slapped a youth who was filming the incident.

AAP has shared the video as evidence of its allegations. The claims could not be independently verified from the material provided.

Jarnail Singh had raised road quality issue

Tilak Nagar AAP MLA Jarnail Singh had shared a video of the road a day before Verma's inspection.

Singh called for work orders to be made available and urged residents to check the quality of development works carried out with public money.

He said residents should seek quality-control inspections if they find defects and press authorities to fix them.

The road quality dispute and the alleged assault have since become a political confrontation between the BJP and AAP in Delhi.

Parvesh Verma Denies Allegations, Accuses AAP MLA of Seeking Commission

Responding to the allegations, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma accused Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh of allegedly seeking commissions from PWD contractors through department engineers.

Verma alleged that PWD engineers had complained about Singh and were in the process of registering an FIR against him. He claimed Singh had been pressuring engineers to meet him along with contractors so that he could allegedly demand a commission.

Verma further alleged that Singh had been targeting road projects because he had been refused money. He said he had gone to Tilak Nagar for a road inspection and found that the construction work was progressing properly.

According to Verma, when he spoke to local residents during the inspection, they told him that the road had not been constructed for nearly 15 years. He alleged that AAP was unhappy that a road project was finally being carried out in the area.

Verma said he called Singh three times during the inspection and asked him to come to the spot, but the MLA did not arrive for around 45 minutes. He alleged that when Singh eventually reached the site, he mobilised AAP workers.

Verma further alleged that AAP workers abused his family during the confrontation. Referring to the alleged slapping incident, he said he reacted after being subjected to such behaviour and claimed that he had acted similarly like everyone else do in such situation.

Verma also accused AAP of opposing development work being carried out by the BJP government. He said the government would not tolerate attempts to obstruct public works.