Coaching centre deaths: HC asks CBI to appoint senior officer to monitor probe

New Delhi, November 30

The Delhi High Court on Saturday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appoint a senior officer to monitor the investigation into the RAU's IAS Study Circle case, following a plea by the father of one of the victims, Nevin Dalvin.

Dalvin, the deceased IAS aspirant, was one of the three students who tragically drowned in the flooded basement of the coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar after heavy rains.

The incident occurred on July 27 when civil services aspirants Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana, and Nevin Delvin (24) lost their lives.

Nevin's father had sought a change in the investigation officer after his plea was dismissed by the trial court. The case has since reached the High Court.

On Friday, the HC extended the interim bail of four basement co-owners—Sarabjit Singh, Parvinder Singh, Tejinder Singh, and Harvinder Singh—until January 21, 2024.

The accused are linked to the unauthorised basement facility where the fatalities occurred.

Previously, the Supreme Court had intervened to suspend a deposit condition of Rs 2.5 crore imposed on the accused. Similarly, the condition requiring CEO Abhishek Gupta to deposit Rs 5 crore was also stayed.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court called on the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to establish a supervisory committee, led by a retired High Court judge, to ensure that unauthorised coaching centres, particularly in basements, are identified and regulated across Delhi.