Delhi High Court Grants Interim Bail to Four Co-owners in Tragic IAS Aspirant Deaths Case

The Delhi High Court granted interim bail to four co-owners linked to the deaths of three IAS aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar. Bail is effective until January 2025. The court also requested the formation of a committee to regulate coaching centers in basements and directed the co-owners to deposit Rs 5 crore to the Red Cross Society.

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim bail to four co-owners of a basement linked to the tragic deaths of three IAS aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar. The bail will remain effective until January 30, 2025, according to the court's decision.

Justice DK Sharma's bench also asked the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to form a committee, overseen by a retired High Court judge, to ensure that no coaching centers operate in basements without proper authorization across Delhi. Justice Sharma described the actions of the four co-owners as 'unpardonable' and driven by 'greed.'

The court further directed the four co-owners to deposit Rs 5 crore to the Red Cross Society. In a parallel proceeding, the court also asked the CBI to submit a status report on the causes of waterlogging in the area and rainfall data from that day.

Previously, the trial court had denied bail to the four, citing their liability for illegally allowing the basement to be used as a coaching institute. The co-owners' bail plea in the Delhi High Court contended that the trial court failed to note that they were not named in the FIR. They also argued they had voluntarily reported to the police station, demonstrating their cooperation.

The co-owners' plea argued that the trial court overlooked the principle that vicarious liability does not apply in criminal jurisprudence. They claimed strict criminal liability applies only to the person who directly commits the act, which according to them, isn't applicable in their case. The accused also pointed to heavy rain, an 'act of God,' as a contributing factor, blaming part of the issue on the civic agency's poor sewer system.

In the trial court, the CBI argued that the basement was solely designated for storage, not educational activities, and that the accused were aware of the risks associated with conducting a coaching center there. The court also noted reports from a Karol Bagh resident who had raised concerns about a potential major accident from Rau's IAS operating in the basement without authorization a month before the incident.

The court observed that the accused were aware that the illegal usage of the basement posed significant risks to lives, directly tying this behavior to the tragic incident. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)