Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma Slaps Youth, Row Erupts During Delhi Road Quality Inspection

Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma has faced a political backlash after a video appeared to show him slapping a man who was recording a road inspection in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar, with Delhi Police now verifying a complaint filed by the alleged victim.

The incident took place on Sunday during an inspection of a newly laid road involving Verma and Aam Aadmi Party MLA Jarnail Singh. Footage circulated by AAP leaders shows Verma pushing down the man's mobile phone before appearing to slap him across the face.

The man was identified as Saheb Singh, who said he works on Jarnail Singh's social media activities. He alleged that he was recording the inspection when Verma confronted him and that the minister's associates subsequently threatened him.

Singh's complaint was submitted at Vikaspuri Police Station, and a police officer said the facts and circumstances were being verified.

Road Quality Dispute Preceded Confrontation

The confrontation occurred as Verma was inspecting road construction in the Tilak Nagar area.

Jarnail Singh questioned the quality of the work and was seen pulling portions of the road surface apart by hand. The exchange between the BJP minister and the AAP MLA became heated before the incident involving Singh.

Singh said he had been at the site after the Public Works Department called people to inspect the road's condition. He alleged that he showed Verma portions of the road surface that were breaking apart before the confrontation occurred.

"I was recording a video when Parvesh Verma snatched my phone and raised his hand at me," Singh said, according to reports. He also alleged that security personnel held him and that other people accompanying the minister threatened him. Those allegations have not been independently established.

A lawyer representing Singh separately alleged that his client was slapped after raising questions about alleged corruption in the road construction. That claim is also an allegation and has not been established by police.

Verma has disputed the account presented by AAP and said the video circulating online did not show the full context of the confrontation.

The minister alleged that AAP workers at the site abused his family and said he reacted after the alleged abuse. He also accused Jarnail Singh of attempting to interfere with PWD work and made allegations concerning the MLA's dealings with contractors. Jarnail Singh has rejected the allegations.

Police Verify Complaint as Row Widens

The incident has developed into a broader political dispute between the BJP and AAP, with opposition leaders demanding action against Verma.

AAP leaders have called for a case against the minister, while the party has focused on the road-quality dispute and the video showing the confrontation. Congress leaders have also criticised Verma over the incident.

The police complaint was filed by Singh at Vikaspuri Police Station. Police have said they are verifying the facts. Reports have also noted that Singh has previously faced an assault case, an issue that has been cited in coverage of the complaint but does not by itself establish what happened during Sunday's confrontation.

Verma's defence has centred on his claim that he was responding to alleged abuse directed at his family. AAP's account has focused on the road inspection and Singh's allegation that he was assaulted while recording the proceedings.

The circulating footage establishes that a physical confrontation occurred and appears to show Verma striking Singh. However, the competing claims about what immediately preceded the incident and whether additional offences occurred remain subject to verification.

The episode has therefore turned a dispute over the quality of a Delhi road project into a political confrontation involving the city's ruling BJP government, the opposition AAP and a police complaint that remains under examination.