CBI takes charge of probe into death of 3 IAS aspirants in the basement of Delhi Coaching Centre

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle located in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, officials said on Wednesday.

Following a Delhi High Court order, the probe agency took charge of the case from Delhi Police and re-registered a case in the matter late on Tuesday.

While castigating the police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the deaths of students, the Delhi High Court said it was unable to fathom how the students could not come out of the basement. The Court also sought the reason for the incident, asking if the doors were blocked or staircases narrow.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela presided over the hearing and expressed displeasure over the incapability of the Delhi government to upgrade the city’s infrastructure. 

The court questioned, “What's your line of looking? How did the children drown? You have done an investigation now. We are on August 2. Why were they not able to come out of the basement?”

The court pointed out that a basement doesn't flood immediately. It would take take at least two-three minutes for the water to fill a basement. “It can't happen in a minute. Why were they not able to come out,” PTI reported. 

“To ensure the public has no doubt over the investigation, ” the Delhi High Court on August 2 transferred the probe from the city police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The victims were identified as 25- 25-year-old Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, 25- 25-year-old Tanya Soni from Telangana and 24- 24-year-old Nevin Delvin from Kerala. The three civil service aspirants drowned after being trapped in the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle following heavy rains on July 27.

(With agency inputs)