Women in Delhi no longer wear chains while out on morning walks; MP is from Tamil Nadu—she likely had no idea how police system here is: Saurabh Bharadwaj

In a shocking display of Delhi’s crumbling law and order, Tamil Nadu MP M. Sudha was brazenly robbed during a morning walk in the high-security Chanakyapuri area—one of the most fortified parts of Lutyens’ Delhi. Reacting sharply, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj held the BJP squarely responsible for the capital’s spiralling crime, stating that criminals now operate with impunity under its rule.

In a video message, senior AAP leader and AAP Delhi State President Saurabh Bharadwaj Bharadwaj pointed out that the crime occurred in Lutyens’ Delhi, one of the most heavily guarded parts of the capital. “This is the VIP zone—home to the Prime Minister, the President, the Supreme Court, and foreign embassies. Even here, Tamil Nadu MP M. Sudha was not safe. Two men on a bike snatched her chain and vanished. In Delhi today, chain-snatching is not even considered a major crime. It happens in every colony. People no longer bother with FIRs because they’ve lost faith in the system.”

Saurabh Bharadwaj called out the central government’s negligence. “It’s unfair to blame the police entirely. The real responsibility lies with the central government. New positions in the police force are desperately needed. The population has grown enormously, placing immense pressure on law enforcement. Even the existing sanctioned posts remain unfilled. Visit any police station and look at the SHO’s wall—how many head constables and constables are supposed to be there, and how many actually are. Due to this staff shortage, Delhi has a severe lack of beat constables.”

“The law and order crisis is real. The limited police force we have is diverted for VIP security or political errands. People are so afraid they avoid wearing chains or holding their phones while walking. They keep their phones in their pockets. Delhi’s overall law and order situation is in a terrible state,” he added.

Posting on X, Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “A chain-snatching incident took place at 6 a.m. in Delhi when Tamil Nadu MP M. Sudha was out for a morning walk. It is being reported that bike-borne assailants snatched her gold chain and fled. However, this is no longer a surprise in Delhi. Chain and mobile snatching have become so common here that people have stopped even registering FIRs with the police. They know nothing will come of it—it’s a waste of time.”

He further remarked that the police alone cannot be blamed. “Thousands of posts are lying vacant in the Delhi Police, and the government refuses to fill them. The officers who are in service are overburdened—either assigned to VIP security or misused to trap Aam Aadmi Party workers. Policing has become thoroughly politicised. Officers are no longer judged by their performance on the ground but by how useful they are politically. Their postings reflect this.”

“Women in Delhi no longer wear chains during morning walks. They are extremely cautious. The general belief is—if you want to live in peace, leave your chain at home. Since M. Sudha is from Tamil Nadu, she may not have anticipated how poor Delhi’s policing really is,” the post concluded.