New Delhi: A freelance content creator, a hotel worker, and a salon employee who allegedly wrote ‘pro-Khalistani’ graffiti targeting singer and actor Diljit, have been arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell, police said.
The accused, including a woman, allegedly painted the graffiti at Delhi’s Jahangirpuri and Shastri Nagar metro stations.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sumeet alias Raftar, 30, a resident of Panipat, Haryana; Sumit Kumar alias Kaka, 22, a resident of Gurdaspur, Punjab, and Gurpreet, 22, a resident of Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
As per the Special Cell, on 29 October, graffiti was found on the floor near gate no. 1 of Jahangirpuri Metro Station. On 30 October, similar graffiti was found on the inner wall of the staircase at gate no. 2 of Shastri Nagar Metro Station.
“In both instances, the graffiti read ‘Diljit Singh quam da gaddar khoon da badla — SFJ Khalistan (Diljit is a traitor, will seek revenge — SFJ Khalistan)’, expressing support for the banned separatist organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and Khalistani ideology. These acts defaced public property in Metro stations and posed a threat to public order and national integrity,” said DCP (Special Cell) Narra Chaitanya.
An FIR was registered at the Azadpur Metro Police Station and another at the NSP Metro Police Station under Section 3 of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 2007 (penalty for defacement of property) and Section 62(2) of the Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002 (prohibition of demonstration in Metro railway).
The Special Cell took up the investigation. Through meticulous CCTV footage analysis and local intelligence, the suspects were identified. Technical analysis confirmed the identity of Sumeet alias Raftar. The Special Cell teams successfully apprehended him and established his role.
“During interrogation, the involvement of two accomplices based in Ludhiana, Punjab, was established. Consequently, the team pursued their identities and locations, leading to the apprehension of Sumit Kumar alias Kaka and his associate, Gurpreet Kaur,” said the police.
‘Accused have confessed’
The accused, during the police interrogation, admitted to arriving in Delhi on October 28, 2026 and painting the ‘pro-Khalistan’ graffiti at Jahangirpuri Metro Station, while Sumit Kumar alias Kaka and Gurpreet confessed to painting the graffiti at Shastri Nagar Metro Station.
Revealing the details of the interrogation, the police said, “During interrogation, the accused confirmed their direct involvement in painting graffiti at both metro stations.”
“Sumit Kumar alias Kaka served as the primary instigator, having been radicalised by SFJ/Khalistan ideology sympathisers from Ludhiana and Gurdaspur. He was contacted by an associate who instructed him to install an encrypted messaging application for assigned tasks,” the police said.
The police added: “Through this platform, a key SFJ member provided specific templates for the graffiti, offering Sumit alias Kaka a substantial financial reward to paint them at key metro locations.”
Sumit alias Kaka subsequently recruited Gurpreet and Sumeet alias Raftar. “Prompted by personal affiliation and friendship, both agreed to travel to Delhi,” the police said.
Upon arriving in Delhi, Sumeet proceeded to Jahangirpuri Metro Station, executed the graffiti, recorded a video of the act, and shared it with his handlers. Sumeet and Gurpreet carried out the graffiti and damage to public property at Shastri Nagar Metro Station during the intervening night of 28–29 October, the police said.
“Efforts are ongoing to trace additional handlers and network associates involved in the conspiracy,” said the police.
Content creator, hotel employee, salon worker
Police said Sumeet completed his class 12 and enrolled at ITI Ajitwal, Moga, Punjab. After that, he worked as a freelance content creator on the Bigo Live platform until it was banned in 2019.
He subsequently transitioned to Tango Live, where he connected with Sumit. “About a week prior to the incident, he visited Ludhiana, from where the trio took a taxi to Delhi, arriving at ISBT Kashmiri Gate on 29 October,” said the police.
Following Sumit’s instructions, he painted the graffiti at Jahangirpuri metro station.
According to the police, after completing class 12, Sumit “became involved in substance abuse and anti-social activities”.
Gurpreet has also completed class 12, after which she worked at a salon in Zirakpur, as well as various hospitality venues across Punjab and Haryana. She met Sumit four years ago through a mutual friend when she was employed at a hotel in Samalkha, Panipat, and the two later moved in together. He was introduced to Sumeet through a mutual acquaintance.
“Sumit initially persuaded her to travel under the pretext of a shopping trip to Delhi, where the plan to deface Metro property was disclosed and executed,” said the police.
“Recently, Sumit had been contacted via WhatsApp and was directed to download an encrypted messaging application, through which a SFJ member offered financial compensation for executing graffiti in Delhi,” the police said.
“Additionally, interrogation revealed that on 30 October 2026, he painted graffiti near the GTK Bypass within the jurisdiction of Samaypur Badli Police Station, which is being further investigated,” they added.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Pro-Khalistan graffiti found on metro station pillar in Delhi, FIR registered