New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Delhi High Court on Monday (October 7) that its investigation against statutory officials, including officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Fire Department in connection with the drowning of three civil services aspirants in a coaching centre basement is in progress.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a plea filed by by an organisation Kutumb seeking an investigation by a high-level committee into the deaths of three civil service aspirants in the basement of a Rau’s IAS Study Circle, a coaching institute, in Old Rajinder Nagar on the evening of July 27.
High Court on August 2 transferred probe from Delhi Police to CBI
The High Court, while hearing the plea, had on August 2 transferred the probe into the incident from the Delhi Police to the CBI. It had also directed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to nominate a senior officer to oversee the CBI probe and ensure that the investigation is complete in a time bound manner.
The High Court had also ordered for the constitution of a committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government for a re-look at administrative, financial and physical infrastructure of the national capital, saying that “There are too many authorities and no accountability.”
Chargesheet in the case has been filed against six persons before a trial court on September 26, CBI informed High Court
The CBI, which filed a status report in a sealed cover, on Monday told the bench that a chargesheet in the case has been filed against six persons before a trial court on September 26 under the provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). It also told the bench that no criminality could be attributed to the role of the owner and driver of an SUV car who was earlier arrested by the Delhi Police for driving his SUV car through a flooded road on the day of the incident that caused the water to swell and gush into the building.
The CBI further told the bench that further investigation against statutory officials, including officials of MCD, Fire Department and DJB, is in progress and documents, gathered during searches and seizures. are being scrutinsed. It also told the court that in pursuance to the order of the court, it has submitted three reports to the CVC.
High Court directed CBI to file a fresh status report on the status of investigation
The High Court directed the CBI to file a fresh status report on the status of investigation into the case within four weeks.
The Delhi government told the bench that that the chief secretary has prepared the report and urged the bench to grant four more weeks to file the report and the bench granted it the four weeks of time. The High Court also asked the MCD commissioner to file its status report in accordance with the order of the court.
The matter would be heard next on November 6.
