Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has publicly accused the Delhi government, led by the BJP, of deliberately falsifying air quality index (AQI) data. Bhardwaj's allegations, made on Monday, November 9, 2026, suggest that the official pollution figures do not accurately reflect the severe air quality conditions experienced across the national capital, particularly following Diwali.
According to Bhardwaj, independent air quality monitoring platforms recorded AQI levels surpassing 3,000 in certain areas of Delhi on Diwali night, November 8. This contrasts sharply with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)'s official report, which cited Delhi's average AQI on the same day as 376, categorizing it as “very poor.”
Allegations of Data Manipulation
Bhardwaj detailed several methods he believes are being used to understate pollution levels. He alleged that approximately 20 new AQI monitoring stations have been strategically placed in more remote, greener parts of Delhi. Additionally, he claimed that water is being sprayed around existing monitoring stations in heavily polluted zones, an action he suggests is intended to artificially lower recorded pollution figures.
The AAP leader warned of grave public health consequences if pollution data is intentionally misrepresented. He stated that showing lower-than-actual pollution levels could lead to serious health issues, including heart attacks, asthma attacks, and respiratory failure, as residents may not take adequate precautions.
Official vs. Independent Readings
While the CPCB categorized Delhi's average AQI as “very poor,” its own data for November 8 revealed significant localized pollution. Of Delhi's 59 air quality monitoring stations, 19 registered air quality in the “severe” category, 33 in the “very poor” category, and seven in the “poor” category. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest official CPCB reading at 460.
However, independent monitoring platforms presented a starkly different picture. For instance, AQI.in data indicated that Delhi's AQI peaked at 1,331 at 1:31 AM on November 9. Bhardwaj himself shared videos on social media platform X, purportedly showing AQI readings exceeding 3,000, although these specific figures have not been independently verified by news outlets. The significant discrepancy between official and independent data has ignited a critical debate regarding the transparency and accuracy of Delhi's air pollution monitoring and reporting mechanisms.