BMW crash in Delhi: Son's first salary gifts remain ungiven after accident claims father's life

A senior government official, celebrated for his work on the international stage, was killed in a road accident in the capital on Sunday. His wife was critically injured, casting a pall over their son’s 21st birthday celebrations.

Navjot Singh, a 57-year-old deputy secretary in the Finance Ministry's Department of Economic Affairs, died near Dhaula Kuan. The incident left his wife, Sandeep Kaur, hospitalised.

For their son, Navnoor Singh, the tragedy struck on the eve of a family celebration. He had recently started his first job and was eagerly anticipating celebrating his birthday with his parents on September 16.

He had planned to use his first salary to buy special gifts. "I had picked out the watch already," he told TOI. "For my mother, I had selected the earrings she wanted."

Instead, he spent the day grieving in a hospital lobby. His father was gone and his mother was fighting for her life.

As reported by TOI, Navjot Singh had built a distinguished career in government service. A graduate of Delhi University's Hansraj College, he cleared the SSC CGL exam in 1995.

He served in both the defence and finance ministries. His most recent role involved overseeing India's economic coordination with Japan and South Korea.

His work was internationally recognised. In June, he represented India at the United Nations during a key Financing for Development conference.

He frequently accompanied Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to international forums. His professional travels had taken him to the US, Spain and New Zealand.

Beyond his professional accolades, Navjot Singh was a man who deeply valued his family and personal passions. His son described them as being "more like friends than parents."

"They would go out on small dates every weekend," Navnoor was cited by TOI as saying. "My father would take the car to work, but when it came to taking my mother out, he preferred the bike."

He was an avid motorcyclist. After years with a Royal Enfield, he had recently been riding a Triumph Scrambler 400x.

He was also a passionate photographer. He was known to document everything, always carrying his professional camera or a new phone bought specifically for its camera quality.

The family had just celebrated Navjot and Sandeep's 23rd wedding anniversary on 1 September. "My parents were best friends first," their son recalled.

A final goodbye



Navnoor remembers his last conversation with his father vividly. He was leaving to pre-emptively celebrate his birthday with friends to free up time for his parents.

"He said ‘bye’, and I told him I'd see him very soon," he said. The most painful part is that his father will never see the watch chosen with such care.

The loss has resonated deeply within the family and his wide circle. Bitty Singh, Navjot's sister-in-law, remembered him as a "sweet soul."

"He was always like a brother to me. He was jolly, likeable and truly everyone's favourite," she told TOI.

The family, with a legacy of service spanning four generations including the British Indian Army and Indian Air Force, now mourns a man who represented his country abroad but whose heart was always at home.