Delhi Coaching Centre Drownings: Court Sends Accused to Judicial Custody Until September 18 in CBI Probe

The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday ordered that all six individuals accused in the tragic drownings of three UPSC aspirants at a coaching centre in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar be placed in judicial custody until September 18, 2024. The case is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The accused, including Abhishek Gupta, Deshpal Singh, Tajinder Singh, Harvinder Singh, Sarabjit Singh, and Parvinder Singh, were presented in court by the CBI following the conclusion of their initial remand period. During a previous hearing, the court had emphasized the importance of custodial interrogation for the progress of the investigation, granting the CBI a four-day police custody remand for the accused.

The court reiterated that custodial interrogation is a vital investigative tool, particularly in serious offences, allowing the investigating officers to thoroughly pursue and complete their inquiries. Senior Public Prosecutor Prashant Kumar, representing the CBI, argued that further custodial interrogation was essential for the investigation, noting that the CBI had not yet exercised this option.

In a related development, the court recently denied a petition by Abhishek Gupta, CEO of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, seeking to reopen the coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar. The petition followed the July 27 incident where three IAS aspirants drowned due to flooding in the basement, which was reportedly being used as a library instead of its intended purpose for storage.