Delhi Police on Tuesday apprehended Himanshu Gupta, the main contractor hired by the Delhi Jal Board, in connection with the Janakpuri pit death case after an extensive manhunt. Gupta was arrested early in the morning in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where he had been hiding, by a team of the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) from West District. He is being brought to Delhi for further investigation.
The arrest follows the ongoing probe into the tragic death of 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani, who fell into an unsecured 4.5-foot-deep excavation pit along with his motorbike in West Delhi’s Janakpuri earlier this year. Investigations revealed that Dhyani remained trapped in the pit for nearly eight hours despite at least six individuals being aware of the incident.
Earlier, on February 28, a Delhi court rejected the bail plea of labourer Yogesh, who has been charged in the case. Judicial Magistrate First Class Harjot Singh Aujla of the Dwarka Courts criticized Yogesh for notifying his employer before attempting a rescue, stating it indicated deliberate suppression rather than helplessness.
The court noted that instead of raising an alarm or seeking help to save Dhyani, Yogesh prioritized informing his employer and later tried to conceal the incident. This conduct raised serious concerns beyond the mere presence of an uncovered pit.
Police investigations also revealed that sub-contractor Rajesh Kumar Prajapati and Yogesh had initially failed to assist in recovering Dhyani’s body and allegedly attempted to cover up their negligence by not placing barricades around the excavation site. About an hour later, directors Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta were informed but allegedly ignored the incident and fled.
The anticipatory bail pleas of both Gupta brothers were previously rejected by the trial court and Delhi High Court. The police continue to investigate the case to determine the full extent of negligence and accountability.
