Delhi coaching centre deaths: Coaching centre offers compensation to victims' kin on one condition

A lawyer representing the New Delhi-basedRau's IAS Study Circle said late Thursday (Aug 1) that the coaching institute for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination was offering $59,689 (Rs 50 lakh) each to the families of the three students who drowned in the institute's basement. But there's a catch.

Speaking to the news agency ANI,Advocate Mohit Saraf (representing Rau's IAS Study Circle) said, "What we are offering is aRs50 lakh compensation to each one of the students who has lost his life".

The condition for compensation

Saraf said that $29,844 each would be offered to the families right away and the remaining compensation amount would be paid once the institute's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abhishek Guptawas released from prison.

#WATCH | Old Rajinder Nagar Coaching Centre incident | Delhi: Rau IAS' Advocate Mohit Saraf says, "What we are offering is a Rs. 50 lakh compensation to each one of the students who has lost his life. Rs. 25 lakhs right away and Rs. 25 lakhs once Abhishek, CEO of the… pic.twitter.com/pr7tW4nDXv — ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2024

"I also have committed that the next part will be paid within six months... Different people have different expectations, I am a messenger..." Saraf further told the news agency.

The three students – Tanya Soni, Nivin Dalwin, and Shreya Yadav – died last week due to flooding in the basement of the coaching institute. The Delhi Police had recently arrested Gupta and Rau's IAS Study Circle's coordinator Deshpal Singh in connection with the incident.

The offer for the compensation comes days after the institute said that it was cooperating fully with relevant authorities and agencies to ensure that all necessary information was provided and that the investigation proceeded with the utmost diligence.

"...we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing support to the affected families and addressing any concerns that arise from this incident," the Rau's IAS Study Circle said as it condoled the deaths of Soni, Dalwin, and Yadav.

'Earn respect by arresting culprits...'

In the latest news from the incident, the Delhi High Court (HC) on Friday (Aug 2) took a swipe at the police for arresting an SUV driver, Manoj Kathuria.

The police arrestedKathuria and accused him of forcing a water wave that breached the entrance of the coaching centre which led to the flooding.

Kathuria was driving his carthrough the waterlogged road when the incident took place. He was granted bail on Thursday.

According to a report by NDTV, the high courtemphasised that the police earn respect by arresting the culprits and protecting the innocent.

The HC said it was a matter of great relief that the police did not impose a fine (challan) on the water flowing in the drain for the death of the three victims who drowned in the institute's basement.

The HC also transferred the case's investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

(With inputs from agencies)