IAS coaching deaths: HC slams police, transfers probe to CBI
What's the story
The Delhi High Court has publicly criticized the police for the probe into the death of three UPSC aspirants at Rau's IAS Study Circle.
The students died after being trapped in a flooded basement of a coaching center in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi.
"Mercifully, you have not challaned rainwater for entering the basement, the way you arrested the SUV driver for driving his car there," the court told police.
Bail granted
Court grants bail to accused SUV driver
To recall, on Thursday, the court granted bail to Manuj Kathuria—an SUV driver who was arrested and charged with "culpable homicide not amounting to murder"—in the case.
Kathuria was accused of driving on a waterlogged road next to the center—allegedly pushing the water into the basement
The court said that the police earn respect by arresting the guilty and safeguarding the innocent. It added that arresting the innocent while allowing the guilty to go free would constitute a severe injustice.
Accountability sought
'Provide clear account of incident...': HC
The high court instructed the Delhi Police to provide a clear account of the incident's facts, warning that failure to do so would be unacceptable and akin to a "brothers club" approach.
The court advised the police to conduct investigations scientifically and resist external pressures.
It also questioned why civic officials failed to inform the commissioner about non-functioning storm water drains in Rajinder Nagar, stating that such negligence has "become a norm, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials are indifferent."
Study center deaths
HC transfers case to CBI
Additionally, the Delhi High Court transferred the investigation into the deaths of the three students to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court stated that due to the nature of the incident and to ensure public confidence in the investigation, the probe is being transferred to the CBI.
"Since central vigilance commissioner exercises supervisory power, this court directs the commissioner to appoint a member to supervise the probe," the court order added.
Protest
Student protest enters 6th day
The IAS aspirants protesting the deaths at the centre continued their demonstration for the sixth day on Friday.
"We will persist with our protest, but our studies are also important. Those at the protest site have brought their study material," said a civil service aspirant.
On Wednesday, the protesting students formed a 15-member committee to decide on future actions.
On July 27, Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalvin died after rainwater flooded the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle.