Former IAS Officer and Son Arrested After Delhi Metro Seat Argument Leads to Man's Death

A 48-year-old man died following a physical fight over a senior citizen seat inside a Delhi Metro train. Delhi Metro Police arrested 65-year-old former IAS officer Sanjay Pratap Singh and his 36-year-old son, Sidharth Singh, both residents of Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

What Happened

The victim, Pawan Sharma, was travelling with his mother, Durga Devi, on October 8 at about 5.47 p.m. towards Yamuna Vihar. They sat on seats meant for senior citizens. The two accused got on the train at Mandi House Metro station and a fight started over the seats. The argument turned physical, and Mr. Sharma was reportedly slapped and pushed. When the train reached Supreme Court Metro station, Mr. Sharma fell unconscious on the platform. He was rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital with his mother, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Legal Action

Police registered an FIR on October 9 based on a statement from Mr. Sharma's mother. Both father and son were arrested under Sections 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and 3(5) for common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A court sent them to judicial custody for 14 days. Records show the older accused, a 1984-batch IAS officer, was earlier arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in December 2015 over an alleged bribery case involving ₹2.2 lakh when he served as Principal Secretary in Delhi. Police say further investigation is ongoing.

Context

Public transit systems like the Delhi Metro carry millions of daily commuters, making crowded trains and reserved seating frequent flashpoints for public disputes. Metropolitan police stations routinely handle transit-related altercations under criminal law when minor arguments escalate into physical violence. Commuters are expected to follow designated seating rules and report disputes to train staff or security personnel rather than engaging in physical fights.