Parvesh Verma, the Delhi Public Works Minister, slammed Jarnail Singh, an AAP MLA, across the face during a road inspection in the capital on September 27, 2026, after Singh filmed the minister while a section of road was being excavated.
Verma’s left hand grabbed Singh’s mobile, and his right hand delivered a hard slap that was captured on a handheld camera and later posted by Singh on Twitter.
Shortly after the clip went viral, Rahul Gandhi posted on X, calling the act a "face of a power that no longer fears voters," and linking it to a pattern of intimidation that he says includes lathi charges against protestors and muted microphones in Parliament.
Verma, in a video released later that day, defended his actions by claiming Singh had "hurling abuses at my family" and that the minister was justified in reacting to the disturbance.
The incident has ignited a debate in Delhi’s political circles, with opposition leaders demanding an inquiry into Verma’s conduct and the Delhi administration reportedly still pending a formal statement.