New Delhi: A dispute over a seat reserved for senior citizens aboard a Delhi Metro train allegedly turned fatal after a 48-year-old commuter died following a physical altercation on October 8. Police have arrested a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and his son, who practises law at the Supreme Court, in connection with the incident.
The deceased, identified as Pawan Sharma, allegedly suffered head injuries after being slapped and pushed during the confrontation, according to the First Information Report (FIR). He was taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital by Metro staff but was declared dead on arrival, the FIR stated.
The accused have been identified as Sanjay Pratap Singh, a retired IAS officer, and his son Sidharth Singh. Both were arrested after a case was registered following a complaint by the deceased’s mother, police sources said.
Dispute Over Senior Citizen Seat Allegedly Escalates
According to the police complaint, the incident occurred on October 8 aboard a Delhi Metro train, with the altercation reported at the Supreme Court Metro station.
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The dispute reportedly began over the use of a seat reserved for senior citizens. The argument subsequently escalated into a physical confrontation in which Sharma was allegedly slapped and pushed, causing him to fall and sustain head injuries.
Metro personnel intervened after the incident and arranged for Sharma to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.
FIR Registered for Culpable Homicide
The case was registered on October 9 at the Supreme Court Metro police station following a complaint by Sharma’s mother, identified in reports as Durga Sharma, who was reportedly travelling with him when the incident occured.
According to the FIR, the police invoked Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and Section 3(5), concerning acts committed by several persons in furtherance of a common intention.
The charges relate to the alleged assault and the circumstances surrounding Sharma’s death. The police are investigating the sequence of events that led to the confrontation and the fatal outcome.
The registration of an FIR and the arrests do not establish guilt. The allegations against both accused will be subject to the legal process.
Who Are the Accused?
Sanjay Pratap Singh is a retired IAS officer, while his son Sidharth Singh is a lawyer practising at the Supreme Court, according to media reports.
Police sources have also reported that the former bureaucrat was previously arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an alleged bribery case. That matter is separate from the current investigation into Sharma’s death.
The present case concerns the alleged physical altercation aboard the Metro train and the injuries sustained by Sharma.
Police Investigation Underway
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the dispute, the alleged assault and the events leading to Sharma’s death.
The case has drawn attention to passenger safety and the consequences of confrontations over seating arrangements in public transport. However, the precise sequence of events and the responsibility for the death remain matters for the ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings.
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