Delhi Coaching Centre Deaths: High Court Grants Interim Bail To Four Co-Owners Of Basement Subject To Depositing Rs 5 Crore With Red Cross

The Delhi High Court today granted interim bail till January 30 to four co-owners of basement of a coaching centre in city's Old Rajinder Nagar area– Rau's IAS, where three civil services aspirants died on July 27 after drowning.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the interim relief is subject to Petitioners- Parvinder Singh, Tajinder Singh, Harvinder Singh and Sarbjit Singh- depositing Rs. 5 crore with Red Cross Society, which will be utilised by the LG to streamline the running of coaching centres.

The single judge has also requested the LG to appoint a committee headed by a former judge, to ensure that no coaching centre is run without due permissions.

Justice Sharma further asked the government to carve out a "specified place" for running of coaching centres.

"Whatever the Petitioners did is unpardonable. It is an act of greed. They let out the basement knowing fully well...but I have also taken into account the aspect of personal liberty and admitted them to interim bail till 30 January," the Judge said while pronouncing the order.

The Petitioners are also required to furnish two sureties of Rs.1 lakh each.

The case is launched under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and the probe is being conducted by the CBI.

It is alleged that the institute was illegally running a library in the basement, where students got stuck in the flood.

Yesterday, the counsel appearing for the co-owners had informed the Court that as per MCD Commissioner's own admission, storm water drain on side of the road where the building is located was dysfunctional on the day of mishap.

The counsel appearing for kin of one of the deceased students had however submitted that petitioners may not be granted bail until the investigation is completed, adding the coaching centre was being run in violation of the building bye laws, and that it was "in the knowledge" of the petitioners that after it rains "flooding takes place on the road" and that the "flooding will go into basement".

Case title: Parvinder Singh v CBI and other cases

Appearance: Mr. Mohit Mathur, Sr. Adv. with Mr. Amit Chadha, Mr. Kaushal Jeet Kait, Mr. Daksh Gupta, Mr. Jatin Yadav, Mr. Gaurav Dua, Mr. Harjas Singh, Mr. Harsh Gautam, Mr. Vignesh, Advs. for petitioner 

Mr. Rajesh Kumar, SPP for the CBI with Ms. Mishika Pandita with ASP R.S. Solanki Mr. Abhijit Anand, Mr. Rochak Singla, Mr. Sahil Rejakhan, Advs. for deceased victim father of Nevin Dalvin