The Delhi Police have arrested Rajesh Prajapati, a sub-contractor for the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), marking the first arrest in the tragic death of 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani. Dhyani, a call center employee, lost his life late Thursday night after his motorcycle plunged into a 15-foot-deep, unbarricaded pit in West Delhi’s Janakpuri area.
Investigations revealed a chilling sequence of events: a passing family reportedly witnessed the accident around midnight and alerted a site security guard. The guard informed a junior staff member, who then called Prajapati at approximately 12:22 AM. According to police, Prajapati arrived at the scene and saw the motorcycle inside the pit but failed to investigate further or alert emergency services, instead returning home. Dhyani’s body was only recovered hours later on Friday morning.
Administrative Action and Suspensions
Following the incident, the BJP-led Delhi government took swift disciplinary action against officials responsible for monitoring the site. Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma announced the immediate suspension of three DJB engineers for “prima facie negligence”:
- Executive Engineer: Vandana
- Assistant Engineer: A.S. Garewal
- Junior Engineer: Alok Kumar
Verma stated that the pit, dug just 24 hours prior for a sewer rehabilitation project, lacked essential safety features such as reflectors, green mesh, and adequate lighting. A high-level inquiry committee has been formed to conduct a safety audit of all ongoing DJB projects across the capital.
Compensation and Legal Status
The Delhi government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh for Kamal Dhyani’s family. Meanwhile, the police have registered an FIR under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, against the contractor and concerned DJB officials.
| Detail | Information |
| Victim | Kamal Dhyani (25), Private Bank Employee |
| Accident Location | Near B3B Block, Janakpuri, West Delhi |
| Pit Dimensions | ~20ft (L) x 13ft (W) x 15ft (D) |
| Arrested | Rajesh Prajapati (Sub-contractor) |
| Key Charge | Section 105 BNS (Culpable Homicide) |