New Delhi: Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sanjay Pratap Singh, arrested along with his son in connection with the death of a passenger following an alleged altercation inside a Delhi Metro train, had reportedly been arrested at least three times earlier during his administrative career.
The retired 1984-batch AGMUT cadre officer, who once served as Principal Secretary in the Delhi government‘s Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minorities, had previously faced corruption allegations, departmental proceedings and scrutiny over his assets.
According to reports citing police and official records, Singh was arrested in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) bribery case in December 2015. His earlier legal history reportedly includes an arrest in 1991 while serving as Collector in Daman and another arrest in Delhi several years later.
The earlier cases have come under renewed attention after Singh and his son, Sidharth Singh, were arrested following the death of Metro passenger Pawan Sharma on October 8, 2026.
What Happened Inside Delhi Metro on October 8?
The incident occurred on October 8 near the Supreme Court Metro station in New Delhi.
According to police, Sanjay Pratap Singh, 65, and his son Sidharth Singh, 36, who practises as an advocate in the Supreme Court, boarded a Delhi Metro train at Mandi House station.
During the journey, an argument allegedly broke out between them and Pawan Sharma over a seat reserved for senior citizens.
Sharma was travelling with his mother, Durga, when the disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation.
According to the complaint filed by Sharma’s mother, Singh allegedly slapped her son, while Sidharth allegedly punched him in the chest.
Other police accounts cited in the supplied reports allege that Sharma was slapped and pushed during the confrontation, following which he fell and sustained serious head injuries.
Metro personnel subsequently arranged an ambulance to transport Sharma to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The supplied reports differ on Sharma’s age, identifying him as either 46 or 48. His exact age therefore requires confirmation.
The precise sequence of events, the individual roles of those involved and the circumstances that caused Sharma’s death remain matters for investigation.
Former IAS Officer and Son Arrested, Sent to Judicial Custody
Following the incident, Delhi Police arrested Sanjay Pratap Singh and his son Sidharth Singh.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on October 9 at the Supreme Court Metro Police Station.
The case was registered under 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.
According to the supplied reports, both accused were subsequently remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
The arrests and registration of the FIR do not establish criminal guilt. The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
Who Is Sanjay Pratap Singh? Know His IAS Batch and Career
Mr Singh is a retired 1984-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, which covers Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories.
Born on July 30, 1961, he served in several administrative positions in Delhi and other Union Territories during his bureaucratic career.
He completed his graduation in History and postgraduate studies in Sociology at the University of Delhi. He also obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree.
According to the biographical details provided, he is the son of the late Justice N. P. Singh.
After joining the IAS in 1984, Singh held positions including Managing Director, Project Director, Joint Secretary, Special Secretary and Officer on Special Duty to ministers.
He eventually rose to the position of Principal Secretary in the Delhi government.
In 2015, during the Aam Aadmi Party government’s tenure, he was serving as Principal Secretary in the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minorities.
His service record also includes an assignment as Principal Secretary at the State Commission for Backward Classes.
The supplied service profile lists July 31, 2021, as his retirement date.
Arrested in 1991 While Serving as Collector in Daman
Mr Singh’s legal controversies reportedly began decades before the present Delhi Metro case.
According to sources cited by The Indian Express, he was arrested in 1991 while serving as Collector in Daman.
He was reportedly arrested again in Delhi several years later.
The sources indicated that the earlier matters were connected with corruption allegations. However, the available information does not establish the specific charges, the circumstances of the second arrest or the final judicial outcomes of these cases.
These two reported arrests, along with the CBI arrest in December 2015, account for the reports that Singh had been arrested at least three times before the Delhi Metro incident.
2006 Departmental Proceedings Over Alleged Vehicle Purchase
Singh’s administrative conduct also reportedly came under departmental scrutiny in 2006.
According to the supplied information, the Ministry of Home Affairs initiated proceedings concerning the alleged unauthorised purchase of an official Tata Sumo vehicle.
The allegation was that the vehicle had been purchased without obtaining the necessary approval from higher authorities.
The available material does not establish the final outcome of these proceedings.
Centre Considered Compulsory Retirement in 2012
In 2012, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reportedly considered a proposal to compulsorily retire Singh.
The proposed action was examined under Rule 16(3) of the applicable All India Services rules amid concerns reportedly raised about his integrity and efficiency.
However, the proposal was not finalised at that stage, according to the supplied account.
Singh subsequently continued in government service and went on to hold senior administrative responsibilities in Delhi.
CBI Arrested Singh in December 2015 Bribery Case
One of the most prominent controversies involving Singh emerged in December 2015, when the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested him and his personal assistant, Ramesh Kumar, in connection with an alleged bribery case.
According to reports published at the time, the CBI accused the two of accepting a bribe of ₹2.2 lakh from a contractor whose firm supplied manpower services to the department.
The contractor had alleged that money was demanded for clearing pending bills.
Investigators reportedly alleged that Singh and his personal assistant were caught while accepting the payment.
Following the arrest, the Delhi government suspended Singh and surrendered his services to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the cadre-controlling authority.
The supplied material does not establish whether the bribery proceedings ultimately resulted in a conviction, acquittal or another judicial outcome.
CBI Searches Reportedly Recovered Gold Bars and Other Valuables
The December 2015 investigation also attracted attention because of the assets reportedly recovered during searches conducted by the CBI.
According to contemporary reports, investigators recovered 31 gold bars weighing approximately 3.20 kilograms from a bank locker linked to Singh.
Reports also referred to cash, expensive watches and other valuable assets.
Investigators reportedly examined documents relating to eight properties located in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon.
The investigation also reportedly identified fixed deposits worth crores of rupees and approximately 300 bottles of imported liquor.
A separate disproportionate assets investigation concerned allegations involving wealth estimated at approximately ₹6.4 crore, which investigators suspected could not be adequately explained through known sources of income.
The supplied account also mentions scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate.
These details concern allegations and investigative findings reported at the time. The available material does not establish the final judicial status of the disproportionate assets or related proceedings.
Son Sidharth Singh Is a Supreme Court Advocate
Singh’s son, Sidharth Singh, has also been arrested in connection with the Delhi Metro incident.
According to the supplied reports, Sidharth is 36 years old and practises as an advocate in the Supreme Court.
Police allege that he was present with his father during the confrontation involving Pawan Sharma and participated in the alleged assault.
Both father and son were arrested following Sharma’s death.
Their individual roles and any criminal liability will be determined through the investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings.
Delhi Metro Death Case: Investigation Continues
The Delhi Metro case has brought renewed public attention to Sanjay Pratap Singh’s administrative career, his earlier arrests and the corruption allegations that surfaced during his service.
Investigators will have to establish the circumstances of the confrontation, the nature of the alleged assault, the cause of Sharma’s fatal injuries and the individual involvement of the accused.
While Singh’s previous legal controversies form part of his reported history, they are separate from the present criminal case.
The earlier allegations and the current arrests must be assessed independently, and none should be treated as proof of guilt without the relevant judicial findings.
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