A 48-year-old passenger has died following an alleged assault during a dispute over a seat reserved for elderly commuters at a Delhi Metro station. Police have arrested a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Sanjay Pratap Singh, and his son, Siddharth Singh, in connection with the incident, which took place at Supreme Court Metro Station on Thursday, 8 October.
The deceased, identified as Pawan Sharma, allegedly suffered a fatal head injury after being slapped and pushed during an argument over the reserved seating. According to the police complaint, Sanjay Pratap Singh and his son were involved in the altercation. Pawan reportedly fell to the ground after being pushed and sustained an injury to his head.
Metro staff subsequently arranged for an ambulance to take him to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in Delhi. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival, according to the account provided by the police.
Following a complaint lodged by Pawan’s mother, Durga Sharma, police registered a case on 9 October. The case was filed under Sections 105 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s criminal code. The two accused were arrested after the case was registered, police sources said.
Section 105 of the BNS deals with culpable homicide, while Section 3(5) concerns criminal acts carried out by several people in furtherance of a common intention. The precise nature of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the death will be examined as part of the investigation.
According to police sources, Sanjay Pratap Singh is a former IAS officer who was previously arrested by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with allegations of bribery. His son, Siddharth Singh, is a practising lawyer at the Supreme Court of India.
Police are investigating the sequence of events that led to the confrontation and Pawan’s subsequent death. Investigators are expected to establish the circumstances in which the argument began, the respective roles of those involved and the exact cause of death.
The incident has drawn attention to the potential consequences of disputes between passengers in crowded public transport systems. Seats reserved for elderly commuters are intended to make journeys more accessible for those who may have difficulty standing for extended periods. However, the allegations in this case underline how an everyday disagreement can escalate into a serious incident.
Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. The allegations against the two arrested men remain subject to the legal process, and the full circumstances of Pawan Sharma’s death have yet to be established by the authorities.
