Jal Board staffer files assault complaint, AAP MLA booked

“I told him the pump was on, but whether the sewage had been cleared was not my responsibility. Upon hearing that, Tripathi slapped me and hit me with a shoe, and I fell. The men who had come along with him also began to beat me up,” Singh alleged.

Claiming that no one came forward to help him, Singh said the police were informed hours later only once his co-worker came to the station to relieve him from his shift. Singh was subsequently taken to BJRM Hospital for treatment.

“We are looking into the matter and conducting an investigation accordingly,” said Jitendra Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West).

Tripathi, meanwhile, denied that he hit Singh, claiming that he had only threatened him with punitive action.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Tripathi said that residents of Gujranwala Town, Derawala, Gupta Colony, Sangam Park and Model Town Blocks B and C have filed over 600 complaints to the DJB regarding waterlogging.

“The complaint against me is completely false. The residents of Model Town have been complaining about these issues for the last three months. I had visited Gupta Colony yesterday to sort out the issue but the DJB junior engineer never showed up to the meeting. We waited over one-and-a-half hours for him. After that I went to the pump station and asked about the issue,” he said.

“There are two machines in the pump house, they can be run alternatively till the water is drained. But I don’t know why, they don’t do it. I have had to get the water cleared by the MCD. I told the pump technician that I will be complaining about him to his seniors and get him suspended. Then today morning, I was told that he has filed a complaint against me,” Tripathi added.

A DJB official has said that they are looking into the matter and are verifying the facts of the incident.

The FIR was registered under sections 221 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), and 3(5) (common intent) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.