Tragic death of Delhi biker Kamal Dhyani in Janakpuri DJB pit sparks outrage over negligence. Family lawyer alleges probe delays; sub-contractor arrested, engineers suspended. Latest updates on investigation and political reactions.
New Delhi: The tragic death of 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani, who fell into an uncovered pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in West Delhi’s Janakpuri, has intensified scrutiny on civic safety lapses and investigative delays. The family’s lawyer has accused the DJB of gross carelessness and highlighted slow progress in evidence collection, even as police arrested a sub-contractor and authorities suspended three DJB engineers.
Incident Details and Timeline
Kamal Dhyani, a resident of Kailashpuri and an assistant manager (or call centre employee) at HDFC Bank in Rohini Sector 10, was returning home on his Apache RTR 200 motorcycle late on February 5, 2026. At around 11:53 PM, he spoke to his twin brother Karan, saying he would reach home in 10-15 minutes after passing the District Centre. He was heading home to celebrate his parents’ wedding anniversary.
Dhyani never arrived. His family and friends launched an overnight search, visiting 6-8 police stations including Janakpuri, Dabri, Vikas Puri, and Sagarpur. They alleged police apathy, claiming no FIR was filed immediately due to the 24-hour rule for missing persons, and location data shared briefly was deleted for confidentiality. Karan checked the pit area around 1:30 AM but found nothing. The search continued until around 7-8 AM on February 6, when police informed the family after a passerby (a woman) alerted them to a body in the pit on Joginder Singh Marg near Green Valley Apartments.
Dhyani was found dead in the 15-20 feet deep pit (dimensions reported as approximately 20x14x13 feet in some accounts), alongside his mud-covered bike. He was still wearing his helmet, riding jacket, and gloves. The pit was part of a DJB sewer pipeline rehabilitation project, with locals claiming it had caused congestion and safety issues for months due to debris and poor barricading.
Family and Lawyer’s Allegations
The family has accused the DJB of negligence for leaving the pit without proper covering, barricades, warning signs, reflectors, or lighting. They suspect foul play, noting the pit was empty at 1:30 AM but contained Dhyani and his bike by morning. Karan Dhyani said, “I checked the ditch at 1:30 AM, and Kamal wasn’t there,” as reported by Times of India. Father Naresh Chand blamed the administration: “Until a few days ago, there was no pit at the spot,” as reported by ANI News. A childhood friend added that timely barricades could have saved him, as reported by ANI News and Deccan Herald.
Advocate Astha Chaturvedi, representing the family, alleged complete DJB carelessness and probe delays. “The Delhi Jal Board showed complete carelessness. The pit was not covered properly, nor was any barricading placed around it to warn commuters,” she stated, as reported by PTI News. She raised concerns that CCTV footage had not been provided even after more than 24 hours, questioning: “If recordings are not shared, how will we know how the accident occurred?” as reported by PTI News and Hindustan Times. The family demands swift justice and accountability.
Police Response and Arrest
Delhi Police registered an FIR on February 6 at Janakpuri police station under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against the contractor and concerned DJB officials. On February 7, sub-contractor Rajesh Prajapati (also referred to as Rajesh Kumar Prajapati) was arrested. Police revealed an eyewitness had informed the sub-contractor’s staff about the fall that night, but no action was taken. DCP West Sharad Bhaskar shared the timeline, denying police laxity and stating all aspects, including safety protocols, are under investigation. “Strict legal action will be taken against the guilty.”
DJB and Government Actions
The DJB expressed deep sorrow and formed a high-level inquiry committee to examine barricading, signage, and safety norms, with a report expected soon. Preliminary findings noted the pit was secured with green mesh and the road barricaded, but negligence would invite strict action. The Delhi government suspended three DJB engineers on February 6, ordered a comprehensive safety audit of all projects, and announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the family. Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh directed responsibility fixation, while Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood visited the site, assuring: “If anyone is found responsible, they will not be spared.”
Political Reactions and Broader Concerns
AAP leaders criticized the BJP-led government. Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged police tampered with the crime scene by adding barricades post-incident. Arvind Kejriwal called it “murder” due to negligence, linking it to similar cases like a recent Noida techie’s death. Opposition figures highlighted recurring road safety failures at construction sites. Residents claimed barricades were hastily added after the incident, ignoring prior complaints.
This incident, coming weeks after similar tragedies, underscores urgent calls for better accountability in civic projects to prevent future losses. Investigations continue with all stakeholders under scrutiny.