The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has questioned the silence of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over the unchecked illegal sand mining in Delhi’s Burari and Jagatpuri areas. AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj asked why no action has been taken against the responsible officials despite clear evidence of illegal mining. He pointed out that the LG has not acted against the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), nor has the Chief Minister suspended the concerned District Magistrate (DM).
The former Delhi minister questioned what kind of nexus is protecting the mining mafia and why no FIR has been registered so far. He said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) repeatedly directed the police and the Chief Secretary to stop illegal mining, yet the government informed the tribunal that mining had been halted even as it continues on the ground.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “On 13 January, the AAP visited the Burari and Jagatpur areas and showed through videos and evidence that an organised mafia is carrying out illegal sand mining on the banks of the Yamuna. This is not shocking for the administration or the police because this matter has been pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for nearly a year. Even before this, the High Court had issued several directions on the issue. Two months before the Delhi elections, in December 2024, the NGT gave written directions to the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) North and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ensure 24×7 patrolling to stop illegal mining.”
The AAP Delhi Unit Chief continued, “On 30 April 2025, the NGT made strong observations and stated that the DM and other officers are only indulging in paperwork and letter writing and have no intention of stopping illegal sand mining. Then, on 23 July 2025, the NGT ordered the District Magistrate (North-East Delhi) to form an inter state coordination committee to stop illegal mining and also sought a compliance report. In October 2025, Delhi government officials filed an affidavit before the NGT claiming that no mining was taking place in the Yamuna. However, on 19 December, evidence of illegal mining was presented before the NGT, including photographs, videos and live location details.”
Highlighting administrative failure on the ground, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “On 30 April 2025, the NGT accepted that the DM was failing to take ground level action and was only busy exchanging letters between departments with no interest in stopping illegal mining on the field. When contradictions emerged before the NGT in December 2025, the tribunal made sharp remarks and said that despite affidavits filed by Delhi government officials, it had received evidence of ongoing illegal mining. Even earlier, in 2023, the High Court had ordered the DM and Delhi Police to set up a police post there. The question now arises that when hundreds of trucks are transporting sand from the Yamuna riverbed throughout the night, how can this escape the notice of the police? A 6 to 7 kilometre long ‘kachchi’ (dirt) road has been constructed from the Yamuna to the main road.”
Emphasising the scale of the operation, he added, “If hundreds of trucks are passing throughout the night, it is impossible that the police or the DM are unaware. Yet, every two or three months, the administration submits affidavits before the NGT claiming that no mining is taking place. It must be noted that no licence has been issued for mining in Delhi, which means that whatever mining is taking place is entirely illegal and unlawful. Even after the matter was exposed before the NGT on 19 December, mining continued. AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha visited the site on 9 January 2025 and saw that soil is excavated at night and large mounds are created, and the next day soil and sand from these mounds are loaded into trucks.”
Showing the video recorded on 9 January, the AAP Delhi Chief elaborated, “These massive soil mounds are created using JCB machines. This is the Jagatpur and Burari area where the entire Yamuna riverbank has been destroyed. After seeing this mining, a complaint was sent on 10 January to the DCP, the LG, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Police Commissioner. Sanjeev Jha is an MLA and also the Chairman of the District Development Committee (DDC), which is why the complaint was sent by him. On the same day, another complaint was sent via email to CM Rekha Gupta, the DM (North), the LG, the Divisional Commissioner (DC), SHO Burari and SHO Wazirabad.”
Explaining the sequence of official claims and contradictions, he continued, “These complaints were sent on 10 January at a time when the administration had already claimed through an affidavit in October that 24×7 monitoring was in place and no mining was happening. In December, evidence was presented before the NGT, following which the tribunal strongly reprimanded the Delhi government and the DM. Despite this, mining continued. After the 9 January video, another video was recorded on 13 January, which showed machines standing at the site.”
Questioning the legality of permissions granted, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “When the High Court and the NGT have directed that the DM and police must maintain 24×7 surveillance, how is mining still taking place? This mining is happening within Delhi limits, 7 kilometres inside the border. The SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) formally granted permission to the mining mafia to build a road and use it to transport trucks for loot. This permission was given in writing even though permanent roads or any construction on the Yamuna riverbank are prohibited. Despite this, permission was granted to build a road for stealing soil and sand.”
“When questioned, the SDM claimed that the permission was given to Uttar Pradesh authorities, but the NGT found that the mining was taking place 7 kilometres inside Delhi and that the Uttar Pradesh permission being shown was false and fake,” he added.
“Such large scale loot cannot happen without the knowledge of the DCP and the DM. It is also impossible that the CM and the LG were unaware because Sanjeev Jha had informed them in writing. Additionally, in December, the NGT itself informed the court that mining was taking place under the administration’s watch,” he added.
Saurabh Bharadwaj asked why is the LG silent and fearful? “The LG must explain what action has been taken against the DCP and what nexus exists between them. CM Rekha Gupta must also explain what nexus she has with the DM. The NGT has stated that theft is taking place and an MLA has provided video evidence of illegal mining. Then why has no action been taken against the DM? In a democracy, no one can remain silent over such a massive incident. Silence by the LG and the CM even after court orders, video evidence and written complaints raises serious questions about their accountability.”
Questioning enforcement and financial investigation, he said, “Why has no FIR been registered against the mining mafia so far? If it has been registered, under which sections? When sand worth thousands of crores is being stolen, why has the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) not been invoked? This is a black money operation running at an organised level, so why has the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not acted yet?”
“Is the BJP government merely registering cases against truck or dumper drivers to complete formalities? Catching only drivers will not address such a massive crime. The Delhi government must disclose against which mafia FIRs have been registered and whether stringent laws like the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) or the PMLA have been applied. If the matter is settled by imposing a fine of ₹1 lakh under the Mining Act, it will be proof of even deeper collusion,” reasoned Saurabh Bharadwaj.
Taking aim at the LG’s public role, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Where is the LG now who calls himself Delhi’s ‘local guardian’ and roams the streets? In winter, he is neither visiting night shelters nor inspecting overflowing sewers or broken roads. He is hiding while the public searches for its local guardian. The LG enjoys writing long letters and has a large public relations department. He should ask the same letter writing machinery to issue one letter explaining what action he is taking against the DM and the DCP
