Guwahati, Feb 25: Harsh Singh, accused alongside his wife Ruby Jain of racially abusing three Northeastern women in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, has issued a public apology to the people of the Northeast. Singh said he and his wife were “ashamed” of their remarks, which he claimed were made in the “heat of the moment.”

The couple hit national headlines after a viral video showed them hurling racist slurs such as “momo” and derogatory gender-based insults, including references to massage parlours and sex work, at three women from Arunachal Pradesh. The confrontation began after dust from electrical installation work allegedly fell into the couple’s home, sparking an argument that escalated into racial abuse.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said, “We are definitely ashamed. I am not such a person, but it was in the heat of the moment. We did not intend to do so. Please don’t do media trials; the Indian judiciary is above that. We will accept whatever punishment we get, but don’t paint us as Delhi’s ‘darinde’ couple. I personally apologise to all Northeastern people.” He also alleged that he and his wife were facing online harassment and misrepresentation, including doctored images of his family.

Despite the apology, social media users and activists have dismissed Singh’s remarks, arguing that the insults reflect ingrained racism rather than momentary rage. Many pointed out that harassment faced by Northeastern communities in metropolitan cities is part of a larger pattern of prejudice, not isolated incidents.

Delhi Police have arrested Singh and Jain, invoking provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with charges of outraging the modesty of women, criminal intimidation, and promoting enmity between groups. The investigation is being conducted by an ACP-rank officer under close supervision of senior officials.