Tera bhai mar gaya: How a seat dispute in Delhi metro turned fatal for a 48-year-old after being assaulted by an IAS officer and his son

A family’s plans to celebrate a birthday next month have given way to grief after 49-year-old Pawan Sharma died following an alleged assault during a dispute over seats on a Delhi Metro train in front his 65-year-old mother, as per a TOI report. His younger brother, Deepak Sharma, said their mother, Durga Sharma, called him in distress on October 8, repeatedly telling him that Pawan had collapsed. By the time Deepak reached the hospital, his elder brother had died.

Pawan, who worked as a clerk and supported his family financially, was travelling with his 65-year-old mother when the altercation allegedly took place. Police have arrested a retired IAS officer, Sanjay Pratap Singh, and his son, Sidharth Singh, in connection with the incident. Both men are residents of Noida and have been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.

Also Read: Woman buys 196 parking spaces for Rs 20 crore, residents sue after she doubles rental charges

‘My mother was fainting’: Brother recounts the phone call

Pawan and Durga were returning to their home in Yamuna Vihar on October 8 after visiting Deepak in Gurgaon, where he was unwell. According to police, the dispute began when Sanjay Pratap Singh and his son boarded the Metro at Mandi House and an argument broke out over seats reserved for senior citizens.

Durga alleged that the two men rudely told her and Pawan to vacate their seats. Although the mother and son stood up, Pawan reportedly remarked that the men could lie down on the seats. She alleged that the older man then grabbed Pawan by the collar and slapped him. When Pawan protested, the younger man allegedly assaulted him. Durga also claimed that the older man restrained her when she tried to intervene.

Deepak said his brother had already surrendered his seat but was subjected to further rude remarks.

At around 5.47 pm, Pawan lost consciousness near the Supreme Court Metro station, police said. He was taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Deepak recalled receiving a call from his mother after hearing the distress in her voice. Durga told him she was taking Pawan to the hospital in an ambulance. He then spoke to the ambulance staff, who asked him to reach the hospital.

“My mother was fainting. The hospital staff did not tell her, but when I reached there, I was told that he had already died,” Deepak said.

He alleged that Pawan had been punched in the chest. Describing his brother as a family-oriented person who was not prone to aggression, Deepak said the incident had devastated their family.

Also Read: Delhi's new protest site Ramlila Maidan has just 3 booking days left this year; cost tops Rs 1 lakh

Family had planned Pawan’s 49th birthday

Pawan was due to turn 49 on November 2, and Deepak had been planning a surprise for his elder brother. Instead, the family is now dealing with his sudden death.

Pawan was the sole breadwinner for his household, which includes his wife, a 19-year-old son studying in the first year of college and a 15-year-old daughter in Class X.

Deepak said Pawan had taken responsibility for the family after their father died and wanted to provide his children with better opportunities. His death has left the family facing both emotional loss and uncertainty about the future.

“But now, everything is over,” Deepak said.

“Mar gaya, mar gaya tera bhai gir gaya” (He is dead, your brother has fallen down). These were the words Durga Sharma, 65, kept repeating to her younger son, Deepak, in a distressed phone call after her elder son, Pawan Sharma, collapsed following an alleged assault on the Delhi Metro on October 8. Deepak said he rushed to the hospital after speaking to his mother, only to learn that Pawan, 49, had died.

The family had been looking forward to Pawan’s birthday on November 2, with Deepak planning a surprise for his elder brother. Instead, the family is mourning his death following an altercation over seats reserved for senior citizens on a Metro train. Police have arrested retired IAS officer Sanjay Pratap Singh and his son, Sidharth Singh, in connection with the case.

Police recorded Durga’s statement and registered a case against Sanjay Pratap Singh and Sidharth Singh under Sections 105 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The provisions relate to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and acts committed with common intention.

The two accused were arrested after investigators examined the evidence gathered in the case. A court subsequently remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody.