Delhi Court Denies Bail to Coaching Centre Owners Amidst Investigation

A Delhi court denied bail to four co-owners of a coaching centre, involved in a fatal incident where three students drowned. The court noted the Municipal Corporation's negligence and stated the criminal investigation by CBI is at a critical stage. Owners were found partially responsible, alongside civic authorities.

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

The court criticized the role of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials, who ignored complaints about the illegal basement usage, implicating their involvement. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), now probing the July 27 incident at Rau's IAS Study Circle, was encouraged to hold all responsible parties accountable. Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna declined bail to Parvinder Singh, Tajinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, and Sarbjit Singh, mentioning the CBI's preliminary investigation stage and the need to identify their specific roles.

Additional considerations pointed to violations of building codes and drainage encroachments that needed investigation. The court cited an earlier complaint by Kishore Singh Kushwaha about unauthorized basement activities, asserting that civic negligence significantly contributed to the disaster. Despite the owners' surrender to the police, Judge Chandna underscored the necessity of continued detention during the crucial investigative phase, urging comprehensive scrutiny of all implicated individuals, including MCD officials.

(With inputs from agencies.)