A sudden security breach at the Delhi Assembly on April 6 afternoon left the capital on edge, highlighting both lapses in legislative security and the human desperation behind the incident. At 2:10 PM, a masked man drove a Tata Sierra SUV through gate number 2, intended for VIP access, rammed the barriers, placed a bouquet and garland inside Speaker Vijender Gupta’s official car, briefly sat inside, and then exited. The entire episode unfolded in just five to seven minutes, leaving security personnel scrambling and triggering a citywide alert.
Police later intercepted the vehicle near Roop Nagar in north Delhi, detaining three individuals, including the driver, identified as 37-year-old Sarabjeet Singh, a resident of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. Singh’s family rushed to Delhi after hearing the news and provided documents related to his psychiatric treatment, claiming he was innocent and had no criminal record.
A human story behind the act
“I was looking for my missing nephew… someone fed me opium… I don’t know what happened, but I did not do anything wrong,” murmured a seemingly incoherent Singh during a spot interrogation conducted by a police team led by SHO Ramesh Chander, which had intercepted him following a BOLO (be on the lookout) notice after the breach.
Singh told police he was distraught after his sister’s son, Harman, went missing on April 2 from Hari Nagar in west Delhi. Anxious to find him, he said he went on a road trip, visiting Chandigarh and other places in Punjab to pray. “I just wanted to meet some officers who could help,” Singh reportedly told cops. CCTV footage confirmed he was alone at the time of the breach.
Police officials said Singh was so incoherent that even after exiting the assembly premises, he insisted on going back to “meet some officers.” It was then he encountered two other people, including a taxi driver, to whom he gave money to take him to meet a “high-ranking official.” His family confirmed the missing nephew narrative, and police are corroborating his road trip and movements.
Family background and personal profile
Singh comes from a financially sound family in Pilibhit’s Tarai belt, owning large tracts of agricultural land. Some relatives are in the transport business. His father, Kulwant Singh, passed away some time ago. On Facebook, Singh claims to have his own business and notes that he completed school at Springdale College, later pursuing further studies at a college in Bareilly.
The SUV involved in the incident appeared in two reels on social media—one showing him having the car washed and another showing him driving at a speed of 183 kmph. Singh has also posted in support of the farmers’ protests, suggesting political awareness intertwined with personal distress.
Eyewitness accounts
Gaurav, an e-rickshaw driver whose vehicle was damaged during the breach, recalled the moment the SUV crashed through the gate. “I had parked near the Vidhan Sabha Metro gate when I heard a loud crash. The car hit my e-rickshaw at around 60–70 kmph. By the time I reached my vehicle, a crowd had gathered,” he said, estimating repair costs at Rs 4,000.
He added, “A CRPF personnel tried to alert the authorities, but the SUV fled before they could respond. It was frightening; anyone standing in the way could have been seriously hurt.”
Security concerns and response
The incident prompted an immediate review of assembly security. Speaker Vijender Gupta chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday, instructing the deployment of additional personnel, installation of hydraulic road blockers at all gates, and the creation of a unified command structure with Delhi Police and CRPF.
“Not even the slightest lapse in security can be permitted,” Gupta said in a statement. “No vehicle should enter the assembly premises without proper security clearance. We are strengthening entry and exit points and deploying mobile patrol vehicles capable of swift intervention.”
A senior police officer noted, “Singh drove in a dangerous manner with apparent intent to endanger security personnel. He could have caused serious injury. While no weapons were recovered, the manner of driving suggests premeditation.”
Currently, 22 CRPF and roughly 70–80 Delhi Police personnel are deployed daily across the assembly’s six gates. Gate No. 2, where the breach occurred, is generally used only for VIP movement, with limited security when the House is not in session.
Legal proceedings
Singh faces multiple charges, including attempt to murder, criminal trespass, obstruction of public servants, and violation of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava argued in court that police custody is needed to uncover any conspiracy or potential “terror angle.” The court granted eight days of custody against a plea for ten.
Defence counsel claimed Singh was mentally unwell, presenting medical prescriptions from Shahjahanpur. However, the judge questioned the timing of these claims. “You are driving 700 km across states and yet claiming insanity? How is it that only after committing this offence you realise these mental issues?” the judge asked.
Prosecution highlighted Singh’s deliberate planning, including prior route enquiries and social media posts supporting the farmers’ agitation of 2020–21. “These posts, some later deleted, indicate that Singh is capable of planning and executing an action, even if motivated by personal reasons,” said Shrivastava.
A cautionary tale
Singh’s family in Narayanpur, UP, described him as generally non-violent but prone to uncontrollable behaviour during periods of mental distress. “He left home on April 1 after hearing about Harman’s disappearance. He travelled to Chandigarh with relatives and then returned alone to Delhi. We never imagined something like this could happen,” said his elder brother, Avtar Singh.
The incident, while rooted in individual grief, has exposed systemic vulnerabilities in Delhi’s legislative security. Police and IB officers are reviewing access protocols, response coordination, and CCTV monitoring. Alerts were issued across the city, with barricades and pickets set up to prevent further incidents.
“The breach reminds us that personal crises, if unchecked, can intersect with institutional lapses, creating risks for public safety,” said a senior Delhi Police officer. “We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure this does not happen again.”
As investigations continue, questions remain about Harman Singh’s whereabouts and Sarabjeet Singh’s state of mind, underscoring the delicate balance between human frailty and security in a high-stakes environment.
