Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma has become embroiled in a political controversy after a video from a road inspection in Tilak Nagar appeared to show him slapping a man who was recording the proceedings. The incident took place on Sunday during a dispute over the quality of a newly laid road and has triggered allegations and counter-allegations between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The video, circulated by AAP leaders, shows Verma pulling down the mobile phone being held by the man before appearing to slap him. People present at the site can also be heard reacting to the incident. The footage has since spread widely on social media.
The man involved was identified in reports as Sahil. Speaking to ANI, he said he was handling the social media activities of Tilak Nagar AAP MLA Jarnail Singh and had accompanied the team after the PWD department called them to inspect the road.
Sahil alleged that he was showing Verma how the surface of the newly laid road was coming apart when the situation escalated.
“I handle all social media activities for the MLA (AAP MLA Jarnail Singh). We came here after the PWD department called us to inspect the condition of this road. I showed him how the road surface was breaking apart. When this was pointed out, the Minister couldn’t handle it; he raised his hand against me, and his associates threatened to kill me,” Sahil told ANI.
Sahil also alleged that a police complaint had been filed following the incident and sought action against the minister. Other reports have also said that the man complained to police after the confrontation.
Road Quality Dispute Escalates
The confrontation began during an inspection of road construction work in the Tilak Nagar area. Jarnail Singh questioned the quality of the newly laid surface and, according to reports, pulled up portions of the road by hand to demonstrate his allegations about its condition.
Singh later alleged that instead of addressing the concerns about the road, Verma reacted angrily and that the man recording the incident was slapped.
“Instead of taking action, he slapped the person who was recording the incident and fled the scene,” Singh alleged.
The AAP MLA also claimed that police personnel were present at the location and said the party had contacted the emergency helpline 112. He demanded action against the minister.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticised Verma over the incident and questioned the quality of the road work. AAP leaders have used the video to allege that the confrontation followed questions over the construction work.
Parvesh Verma Gives His Version
Verma has rejected the account presented by the AAP and offered a different explanation for what happened. Addressing the controversy, the minister said the incident should not have taken place but alleged that the man had abused his family.
“Jo hua wo nahi hona chahiye tha (What happened should not have happened),” Verma said.
According to Verma, he lost his temper after the alleged remarks about his family. He also accused Jarnail Singh of interfering with government work and alleged that the MLA had been seeking a commission from a contractor involved in the road project. These allegations have been made by Verma and have not been independently established.
“If someone obstructs government work and an AAP MLA demands commission from our officials, we will not tolerate it,” Verma claimed.
The minister further alleged that PWD engineers had already approached police over the matter and that an FIR was being pursued. He claimed that the road had been repeatedly damaged at night after an alleged demand for a commission was not met.
“The local MLA, Jarnail Singh, had been pressuring PWD engineers to introduce him to the contractor and arrange for a commission for him; he had been making this demand for quite some time,” Verma said.
Verma Says Road Was Pending For Years
Verma said he had visited the area to inspect the construction and claimed that local residents told him the road had not been rebuilt for around 15 years.
The minister also said he had called Jarnail Singh several times and waited for him before the MLA arrived with supporters. Verma alleged that the subsequent interaction became confrontational.
“Local residents told me that this road had not been built for 15 years; it was finally being constructed after a decade and a half,” Verma said.
He further defended the government’s road work and said his administration would use technical checks to assess the quality of construction.
Verma said third-party audits and core-cutting tests would be conducted to establish whether the road had been constructed according to the required standards.
Video Triggers Political Clash
The viral footage has now turned what began as a local dispute over road construction into a wider political confrontation between the BJP and AAP.
AAP leaders have demanded action against Verma over the alleged assault, while the minister has maintained that the incident occurred in the context of an altercation and has accused the opposition party of attempting to disrupt government work.
The video establishes that a confrontation took place and appears to show Verma striking the man, but the footage by itself does not establish all the competing claims made by either side about what happened before the recorded moment. Police action and any further investigation are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
