The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Today (Oct 15) informed a Delhi court that there was enough evidence to prosecute the accused persons in the death case connected to the flooding in an Old Rajinder Nagar coaching institute. The civil services aspirants had lost their lives following a torrential downpour in the national capital leading to the flooding at the coaching institute.
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NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed a Delhi court on Tuesday that it had gathered sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused individuals in the tragic death case related to the flooding at a coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar.
The case involves the deaths of civil services aspirants who lost their lives during a torrential downpour that caused severe flooding in the institute’s premises.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna presided over the hearing, during which the CBI urged the court to take cognizance of the chargesheet it had filed in the case. The chargesheet names several accused individuals, including Abhishek Gupta, the CEO of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, and its coordinator, Deshpal Singh.
The defence counsel, however, challenged the CBI’s claims, arguing that “the chargesheet was incomplete.” They opposed the CBI’s submissions, questioning whether all the necessary information had been provided for the court to move forward with the prosecution.
The agency on Tuesday submitted before the court that it filed the chargesheet on the basis of evidence found during the investigation. It said that Deshpal was managing the coaching centre and there were 25-30 students in the basement when the incident took place. CBI told the court that the building’s level is two feet below in comparison with other buildings adjacent to it. It also said the library was being operated in the basement illegally.
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Advocate Abhijeet Anand, counsel for one of the victims, Nevin Dalvil’s father J Dalvil Suresh, objected to the filing of the chargesheet and submitted before the court that the chargesheet should be sent back to CBI as no investigation was done on the point of corruption. The counsel said that the basement where the aspirants died was used illegally for other purposes than it was taken on lease for.
CBI, responding to the queries of the court, said that Gupta signed the agreement with four joint owners and all of them knew that it would be used for coaching classes and not for storage with the rent of Rs 4.5 lakh.
The agency said that the slider gate was acting as a dam to check the water from entering, which broke due to the passing of a vehicle, and the basement got flooded, claiming the lives of three aspirants.
Shreya Yadav (25) of Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Kerala died after the basement of the building was flooded following heavy rain in central Delhi’s Old Rajender Nagar on July 27. A total of seven persons were arrested in the case Manuj Kathuria, the SUV driver, four co-owners of the basement, CEO Abhishek Gupta, and Coaching Centre Coordinator Deshpal Singh. All seven got bail now.
On August 2, the case was transferred to the CBI from Delhi Police after Delhi High Court’s directions. On August 6, the agency filed a case in the matter against the coaching centre owner, Abhishek Gupta, under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 106 (1) (causing death by negligence), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 290 (negligent conduct when constructing, repairing, or pulling down buildings), and 3 (5) (joint criminal liability when two or more people act with a common intention to commit a criminal act). Gupta, along with Deshpal Singh, was arrested on July 28. The four joint owners were also apprehended on the evening of July 28.
After hearing the submissions from both sides, the court scheduled the next hearing for October 29, when it will decide whether to take cognizance of the chargesheet.
The case has drawn attention to safety concerns in such establishments, especially during extreme weather events, and the upcoming court decisions will determine the legal accountability of the accused.
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