Three Individuals Named in Janakpuri Pit Death Chargesheet for Alleged Cover-Up
In a significant development in the tragic Janakpuri pit death case, Delhi Police have formally named three individuals as accused in their chargesheet. The 877-page document was filed in a Dwarka court on April 7, detailing allegations that the accused were aware of the incident but failed to report it, resulting in the death of biker Kamal Dhyani.
Details of the Accused and Allegations
The chargesheet identifies the three accused as Himanshu Gupta, the now-suspended director of the company responsible for maintaining the Delhi Jal Board pit; Rajesh Kumar, a sub-contractor; and Yogesh, a labourer. According to police sources, all three were allegedly aware that Dhyani had fallen into the uncovered 14-foot-deep pit on February 6 but did not alert the authorities, leading to fatal consequences.
Police have recorded statements from over 30 witnesses, including an eyewitness who saw Dhyani, a 25-year-old resident of Palam, fall into the pit while returning home from his office in Rohini. Another key witness is the woman who first alerted the police about the incident the following morning.
Evidence and Alleged Cover-Up Attempt
Call record details cited in the chargesheet contain purported conversations between Gupta and Kumar, in which they allegedly discussed the accident immediately after it occurred and again the next morning. An eyewitness, Vipin Singh, reported seeing the motorcycle fall into the pit and alerted a guard at a nearby residential complex, who then informed Yogesh.
Yogesh subsequently called Kumar, who arrived at the spot and observed Dhyani lying in the pit with the motorcycle's headlight still on. Kumar then alerted Gupta, who traveled from his Tri Nagar residence to the site. Investigators allege that Kumar directed Yogesh to cover the pit with green sheets and place barricades around it to create the appearance that safety protocols had been followed, an act described as tampering with evidence. Kumar also allegedly instructed Yogesh to leave the city.
Timeline and Legal Charges
The accident occurred around midnight on February 6, but it was not reported to police until eight hours later, when a woman discovered the scene while taking her children to school. Initially, the case was registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. However, additional charges have since been added, including:
- Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy
- Section 238 B for causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender
- Section 3(5) for common intention
- Section 340 for forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
The forgery charge was included after police allegedly found Gupta in possession of fake identity documents while he was absconding. Gupta was later arrested in Udaipur.
Victim's Last Moments
Kamal Dhyani left his office at 11 pm on the night of the incident and informed his family at 11.50 pm that he was near home. However, he soon stopped answering calls, and his body was discovered the next morning. The case highlights serious lapses in safety and accountability, with the chargesheet aiming to bring justice for the victim and his family.
