The confrontation began when Verma, inspecting the new asphalt on Tilak Nagar's main road, accused MLA Jarnail Singh of pressuring engineers for a commission.
Verma said Singh had repeatedly demanded that PWD engineers link him to a contractor and threatened to expose alleged corruption if his demands were unmet.
As the exchange escalated, Verma seized the cameraman's phone and delivered a sharp slap to Singh's recording partner, an act recorded live by the cameraman, Sahib Singh.
Sahib Singh filed an FIR against Verma, and police are now investigating the assault, with the case slated for a hearing in early October.
Residents of Tilak Nagar, who had waited 15 years for the road, expressed shock, with some demanding accountability and calling for a transparent inquiry.