'...You Didn't Challan Rainwater': HC Raps Delhi Cops Over UPSC Aspirants' Deaths; CBI Probe Ordered

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday came down heavily on police and MCD over the death of three civil services aspirants at the basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar here, saying it was unable to fathom how the students could not come out. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked why MCD officials did not inform the commissioner about non-functioning stormwater drains in the area. The court also took a jibe at the police over the arrest of the SUV driver and said, "Mercifully, you have not challaned rainwater for entering into the basement, the way you arrested the SUV driver for driving his car there." 

For the unversed, Delhi Police had arrested Manuj Kathuria and coordinator of Rau's IAS Study Circle, charging them with culpable homicide following the deaths of three UPSC aspirants —Shreya Yadav (25) from Ghaziabad, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) from Ernakulam. The students had drowned in the institute’s basement after heavy rains on Saturday night in Old Rajinder Nagar of the national capital. Kathuria was granted bail yesterday. 

CBI Probe Ordered

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court transferred the investigation to CBI. The court cited the seriousness of the incidents and the potential involvement of corruption by public servants as reasons for this decision. Delhi High Court directed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to nominate a senior officer to oversee the CBI probe into the deaths of the Civil Services aspirants.  

Students Protest Continues

Meanwhile, Civil services aspirants protesting the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre deaths continued their agitation for the sixth day today, with many seen studying at the protest site. "We will continue our protest but studies are also important for us. So those sitting at the protest site have brought their study material here," Goutam, a civil services aspirant, said.

Goutam is also a part of the 15-member committee that was formed on Wednesday by the protesting students to decide the protest's future course of action and communicate with the authorities concerned.  

Another student said as the protest will continue till all the demands are met, other students are helping by providing daily newspapers and study material.

"Senior students are clearing doubts of the juniors at the protest site. Those who are a part of the committee are also studying when they are getting time to prepare for examinations," Harish, who is also a civil services aspirant, said. Three students, identified as Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni and Nevin Dalvin, died after rain water gushed inside the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar on July 27 evening.

Students enrolled in various coaching institutes have been protesting since the incident, demanding improved safety measures at coaching centres that pose a threat to their lives.