CBI team reached the spot
– Photo: ANI
Expansion
A CBI team on Wednesday reached the spot in connection with the death of three UPSC candidates due to drowning in the basement of an IAS coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi on July 27. The team is conducting an in-depth investigation here.
The case was heard in the Delhi High Court yesterday, where it was decided to hand over the investigation of the incident to a central agency. During this, the court reprimanded the Delhi government, Delhi Police and MCD and asked many sharp questions. While reading the verdict, the court said that Delhi, with a population of more than three crore, needs more modern physical and administrative infrastructure. There are many officials in Delhi who only blame each other.
What action was taken after the accident?
After the incident, Delhi Police registered a case against Rao IAS Study Circle owner Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh on charges of culpable homicide and negligence. Both were arrested by the police on 28 July.
In another crackdown the next day, Delhi Police arrested five more people. Those arrested on July 29 included four co-owners of the basement and a passerby, Manoj Kathuria. However, Delhi’s Tis Hazari court granted bail to Force Gurkha driver Manoj Kathuria on August 1. Manoj was accused of driving his car on a road filled with rainwater, causing the water to rise and breaking the gates of the three-storey building of the coaching centre. Three IAS aspirants died due to waterlogging in the basement.
On July 29 itself, the Home Ministry had constituted a committee to investigate the incident. It was said that the committee would investigate the causes, fix responsibility, suggest measures and recommend policy changes. Meanwhile, Delhi Police had sent a notice to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) regarding the incident. In the notice sent to the Municipal Corporation, the police sought documents related to the drainage system in the area and also asked which officer is responsible for its maintenance. The question asked in the notice was who is responsible for ensuring cleanliness in the area and whether this work was given on contract basis.
After the incident, encroachment was removed from near the coaching centre with the help of bulldozers. Action was taken against many other institutions. After this, Delhi Police registered an FIR and formed several teams to investigate the incident. However, on August 3, Delhi Police told the court that the investigation was handed over to the CBI.
