The Delhi High Court on Friday strongly reprimanded the police over the deaths of students due to drowning in the basement of a coaching center in Old Rajendra Nagar and raised questions on the investigation done so far. A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan was hearing a petition seeking a high-level inquiry into the death of three students in the basement of a coaching center in Old Rajendra Nagar.
During the hearing, the court reprimanded the police on the method of investigation. The judge told the Delhi Police lawyer, ‘It is fortunate that you did not issue a challan for rain water entering the basement.’ The court has handed over the investigation of the case to CBI.
Court mentioned the arrest of SUV driver
The court was referring to the arrest of an SUV driver by the police in connection with the death of the students, who was accused of driving at high speed on a road filled with rain water. The allegation was that due to the passage of the vehicle the water increased and the gates broke due to which the basement of the building was flooded.
Driver Manuj Kathuria was released on bail on Thursday after the police dropped the charges of culpable homicide against him. When the court asked whether they knew who approved the building plan, Delhi Police replied that they had sought information about it.
‘Will the criminal himself come and confess to the crime?’
Hearing the reply, Delhi High Court said, ‘You are talking as if you have no power. After all you are the police. You will get everything. You can go and seize the files from the MCD office. Would you mind telling me how to do this? Your officers are not novices. They should know how to do it. Do you think that any criminal will come before you and confess his crime?’
Why did the Municipal Corporation officials not give information?
During the hearing, the court asked why the Municipal Corporation officials did not inform the Commissioner about the clogged storm drains in Rajendra Nagar. The court said that this ‘has become a norm and MCD officials are not concerned about it’.
Let us tell you that on July 27, after heavy rains in some parts of Delhi, two girl students and a boy died due to water logging in the basement of a coaching center building. The incident took place at RAU’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajendra Nagar.