‘Foundational Material’ Missing: Court Dismisses Prajapati’s Illegal Detention Plea in Janakpuri Biker Death Case

New Delhi: Holding that it could not embark on a “fishing and roving inquiry” in the absence of “foundational material”, a Delhi court has disposed of a plea by Rajesh Prajapati alleging illegal detention in the Janakpuri biker death case.Chief judicial magistrate Harjot Singh Aujla observed that despite considerable judicial time being spent on the issue, the allegation was not substantiated by any “cogent material or even prima facie evidence”. The court noted that the record, particularly the call detail records (CDR), suggested otherwise.The case pertains to the death of Kamal Dhyani, who fell into a 4.5-metre-deep excavation pit in Palam Colony around 12.15 am on Feb 6. He remained trapped for nearly eight hours despite several people, including subcontractor Prajapati, being aware of the incident but failing to alert the authorities.During the hearing on Wednesday, the investigating officer submitted that the CDR was filed along with the chargesheet on April 7, 2026.As the CDR revealed the accused’s location at A-3 Block, Janakpuri, at about 10.51 am on Feb 7, magistrate Aujla recorded that this detail “prima facie negates the contention of the applicant.”While Prajapati’s bail plea was already dismissed, the court examined the application alleging illegal detention on merits. The defence, led by advocate Yogesh Aggarwal, contended that Prajapati was arrested on Feb 6, contrary to the arrest memo showing his arrest on Feb 7 at about 4 pm.Earlier, the court flagged “shifting stands” by the IO on the presence of CCTV cameras at the police station’s rear gate, prompting notice to the DCP (West). However, the court said that CCTV footage of the front gate, GD entries, arrest memo and CDR records cumulatively established that Prajapati was not illegally detained.