Townhall Times, New Delhi

Reporter: Bhavika Kalra

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

The incident that started on February 20 in South Delhi isn’t just a “neighborhood squabble” anymore. It has become a political and social firestorm that reached the desks of three Chief Ministers by this morning.

1. The Breaking Point: “Dhandhebazi” and the ₹500 Slur

What began as a complaint about drilling dust from a 4th-floor AC installation escalated into a verbal assault that many are calling “textbook racial profiling.”

The Accused: Harsh Singh and his wife Ruby Jain (residents of the 1st floor).
The Slurs: According to the victims (who include a UPSC aspirant), the couple didn’t just complain about the dust. They reportedly called the women “sex workers” (dhandhewali), claimed they ran a “massage parlour,” and used derogatory terms like “momo” and “illiterate.”
The Threat: In a video that has now been viewed millions of times, the accused woman is heard telling one of the victims, “Try sleeping with my husband… you’ll find out how much strength he has.” ### 2. The Legal Hammer: BNS 2026

The Delhi Police have invoked the new criminal code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) to handle this.
Section 196: This is the big one—Promoting enmity between groups on grounds of race or place of birth. It’s a non-bailable offense.
Section 79: Insulting the modesty of a woman.
The Status: As of tonight, the accused couple is reportedly absconding. Police teams have served notices, but the house in Malviya Nagar remains locked.

The Data: A Cold Look at the Numbers

To understand why this hit such a nerve, you have to look at the statistics of the “Northeast Experience” in Delhi.

The ‘Outsider’ Stats in the Capital

Population: There are estimated to be over 200,000 to 250,000 people from the Northeast living in Delhi-NCR (based on various community surveys and the 2011 census projections).
The Rent Bias: A 2023 survey by research groups showed that 82% of Northeast migrants in Delhi reported facing some form of “verbal or non-verbal” discrimination while looking for housing.
Criminal Reality: Despite the Bezbaruah Committee recommendations from 2014, racial slurs remain common. In fact, a Supreme Court-monitored committee just held a meeting on December 15, 2025, specifically to track “racial atrocities” in metros. Their next mandatory review is set for March 15, 2026.

Crimes Against the NE Community (Estimated Trends)

Year	Reported Incidents (Delhi)	Nature of Primary Crime
2023	~140+	Verbal abuse, Molestation, Rent disputes.
2024	~165+	Cyber-bullying, physical assault, discriminatory slurs.
2025	~180*	Significant rise in “landlord-tenant” harassment cases.
2026 (Jan-Feb)	12 (Reported)	Includes the high-profile Malviya Nagar case.

The Status Right Now

The Northeast Students’ Society (NESSDU) and the Arunachal Student Union have been outside the Malviya Nagar police station since Sunday. The victims are reportedly being pressured by a “building broker” to vacate the flat within two months—a move CM Pema Khandu has vowed to fight.