Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court on Wednesday refused bail to five individuals involved in the case concerning the death of three civil services aspirants due to the flooding of their coaching centre’s basement in the Rajendra Nagar area.
Judicial Magistrate Vinod Kumar rejected bail for SUV driver Manuj Kathuria and basement owners Tejinder Singh, Parvinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, and Sarabjeet Singh.
Kathuria’s lawyer argued that he is not connected to the incident and should not be held responsible. Kathuria is accused of driving his Force Gurkha car through a street flooded by rainwater, which caused the water to swell and breach the gates of the three-storey building, subsequently inundating the basement.
Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava opposed Kathuria’s bail, arguing that his actions exacerbated the incident. Meanwhile, advocate Amit Chadha, representing the basement owners, contended that the civic agencies are to blame and that it was an act of God.
After considering the arguments, the Court denied bail to all five.
The Delhi High Court also questioned the Delhi Police regarding the arrest of SUV driver Kathuria, calling the investigation “strange.” Acting Chief Justice Manmohan asked, “What is the police doing arresting a passerby driver? Have you questioned the person responsible for desilting?”
The Court sought a report from the Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The case will be heard again for further consideration on August 2, 2024.
