AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj detained during candle march over Delhi biker's death
While talking to the media during detention, Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged the police were detaining AAP leaders despite them having gathered only to pay tribute to the deceased, calling it a reflection of 'dictatorship'.
Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was briefly detained on Sunday as he, along with several of his party colleagues, attempted to march towards the site in Delhi's Janakpuri where a biker died after falling into a 15-feet-deep pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
Kamal Dhyani, a private bank employee working in Rohini’s Sector 10, was returning home on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday when he accidentally fell into the open pit.
On Sunday, Bharadwaj and other AAP leaders took out a march to light candles at the site in Dhyani's memory. They were, however, detained by Delhi Police before they could reach their destination.
Speaking with the media amid the chaos, Bhardwaj alleged that AAP leaders were being detained despite having gathered only to pay tributes to the deceased. He called the police action a reflection of "dictatorship".
A senior police officer said the action was taken as the AAP leaders were attempting to stage a protest. "They were removed from the spot and were detained. They were taken to a nearby police station and later released," he said.
Bharadwaj live-streamed on X from a police vehicle, claiming that police personnel tore the poster carrying Dhyani's name and photograph after snatching it from him and his fellow AAP leaders.
"The police erected barricades. We said no slogan shouting was being done and that we would return after lighting candles," he said.
In another video, Bharadwaj questioned whether paying condolences amounted to a crime and claimed that he was "arrested".
DELHI BIKER DEATH: BACKGROUND
Between Dhyani falling into the unguarded pit, which was dug for a sewer pipeline restoration project, and his family discovering his body in the morning, nearly eight hours passed with no one to help him in the deeply distressing moments. The incident triggered widespread backlash against the alleged negligence that caused the man to lose his life.
Delhi minister Ashish Sood and the DJB ordered an inquiry into possible safety lapses, in the aftermath of the tragedy. The DJB said strict action would follow if negligence was found.