Delhi coaching centre deaths: Court denies bail to four co-owners

A Delhi court on Friday denied the bail applications of four co-owners of a coaching centre basement where three civil services aspirants tragically drowned last month, while also noting that they were not “exclusively responsible” for the incident.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna stated that the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is still in its initial stages, and the specific roles of Parvinder Singh, Tajinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, and Sarbjit Singh need to be thoroughly examined.

The court highlighted the complicity of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, who failed to act on a citizen’s complaint regarding the illegal use of the basement for coaching activities.

Despite a complaint lodged by Karol Bagh resident Kishore Singh Kushwaha a month prior to the incident, warning of a potential accident, MCD authorities took no action, even after repeated reminders in July. The court observed that prompt action by the authorities could have potentially prevented the tragedy.

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Judge Chandna expressed hope that the CBI would investigate all those responsible for the July 27 incident at Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, ensuring that justice is served. She said that the violation of building bylaws and encroachments over the drainage system in the area are critical issues that require further investigation.

In her 14-page order, Judge Chandna addressed the direct connection between the leasing of the basement and the fatal incident, stating that the owners, who were residents of the same area, were aware of the risks involved in running a coaching centre in a basement that did not meet safety norms.

The court rejected the defence’s argument that the owners could not be held responsible for culpable homicide, noting that the mere awareness of the dangers associated with the illegal use of the basement was sufficient to establish their culpability.

The judge also pointed out that the owners had surrendered to the police voluntarily, but this was not enough to grant them bail given the ongoing and critical stage of the CBI investigation, where important evidence was still being collected, and witnesses were being examined.

The Delhi High Court had recently transferred the investigation from the local police to the CBI to ensure public confidence in the probe. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of illegal commercial use of basements in Delhi, with the MCD sealing several coaching centres and libraries across the city for violating building regulations.

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The court concluded by reiterating the importance of holding all responsible parties accountable, not just the basement owners, but also the MCD officials whose negligence contributed to the disaster.   (With inputs from PTI)