CBI Accuses Coaching Institute of Illegal Use of Basement Leading to Fatalities
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused Abhishek Gupta, the owner of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, of “knowingly” using the building’s basement for commercial purposes, despite the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) only approving it for non-commercial use. This violation, according to the CBI, contributed to the deaths of three UPSC aspirants on July 27, who drowned in the basement of the institute in Old Rajinder Nagar.
The CBI, which took over the investigation from Delhi Police on August 2, has asked a special court for permission to interrogate Gupta and five other accused, including Deshpal Singh, Harvinder Singh, Parvinder Singh, Sarabjeet Singh, and Tajinder Singh, in custody. All six were placed in CBI custody until September 4 by the court, led by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Nishant Garg, due to the gravity of the charges.
The investigation has revealed that the coaching center had been operating without a valid fire safety certificate for nearly a year, despite the Delhi High Court raising concerns about local coaching institutes’ lack of compliance in 2023. After being served a show cause notice by the MCD in 2023, Gupta assured them that he had applied for the required certificate, which was eventually issued on July 9, 2024.
The MCD had issued an occupancy certificate for the building on August 9, 2021, specifying that the basement was only to be used for parking and storage purposes. However, Gupta signed a lease agreement in January 2022, paying ₹4 lakh per month, and converted the basement into a library and exam hall, directly violating the building’s approved use.
The CBI pointed out that Old Rajinder Nagar, where the institute is located, is prone to flooding even during moderate rains. Although steel gates had been installed to prevent water from entering the premises, the heavy rainfall on July 27 overwhelmed the basement, where students were studying. Tragically, three UPSC aspirants—Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalvin—died from asphyxia caused by drowning, as confirmed by their postmortem reports.
The investigation revealed that the institute was operating across all floors, including the basement, in violation of the building’s intended purpose, with the commercial use of the basement contributing to the fatal incident.
(With inputs from agency)
Share your news, articles, deals, columns, or press releases with us! Click the link to submit and join our platform today.
