"What is the Delhi Police doing? Have they lost it?," wondered the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, while castigating the police for a "strange" probe by arresting an SUV driver for his alleged role in the drowning of three civil services aspirants at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar area in the national capital.

The strong words of the high court, however, did not come to the rescue of jailed SUV driver whose bail plea was dismissed by a magisterial court later in the day.

Judicial Magistrate Vinod Kumar rejected the bail plea of five accused, including SUV driver Manuj Kathuria, who was termed a "masti-khor" (fun lover) by the Delhi Police in their vehement opposition to his bail plea.

In the high court, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said a "strange probe" was going on with the Delhi Police taking action against a man who drove a car outside the coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar here but not acting against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials.

"What is the Delhi Police doing? Have they lost it? What are its officials who are monitoring the probe doing? This is a cover-up or what?" the court said.

The bench said the police have arrested a bystander or some person who was driving the car over there. It asked whether some official (of MCD) has been held accountable for the incident till now.

"We are telling you, once the responsibility is fixed on officials, no such incident will ever happen in future," the bench said.

The high court was hearing a plea by an organisation, Kutumb, seeking the constitution of a high-level committee to investigate the deaths of the three civil service aspirants on the evening of July 27.

During the hearing, the bench allowed an oral prayer of the petitioner's advocate Rudra Vikram Singh to implead Delhi Police as a party to the petition.

"Where is the police? Who is investigating this matter? They are trying to get hold of any passerby or driver and saying this happened because you drove a car."

"Has any official been caught or interrogated? Have they interrogated the official who has not de-silted this drain? Was the drain de-silted properly and in time?,” the court asked and said, "Some sort of very strange investigation is going on."

The court hinted at asking a central agency to probe the incident and directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, deputy commissioner of police concerned and the investigating officer (IO) of the case to appear before it on Friday.

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It said this was strange that no MCD official has been hauled up till now.

"We don't know whether the IO has seen the de-silting plan or the approved building construction plan. We have no idea whether he has done that or whether he has investigated the role of MCD officials," the bench said.

The counsel for the Delhi government said he would take instructions from IO on the status of investigation and on the queries raised by the court and apprise it on Friday.

Kathuria has been accused of driving his Force Gurkha car through the street that was flooded by rainwater, causing the water to swell and breach the gates of the three-storey building, where Rau's IAS Study Circle was being run, and inundate the basement.

The police have registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106(1) (death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide), 115(2) (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings).&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

"What is the Delhi Police doing? Have they lost it?," wondered the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, while castigating the police for a "strange" probe by arresting an SUV driver for his alleged role in the drowning of three civil services aspirants at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar area in the national capital.

"What is the Delhi Police doing? Have they lost it?," wondered the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, while castigating the police for a "strange" probe by arresting an SUV driver for his alleged role in the drowning of three civil services aspirants at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar area in the national capital. The strong words of the high court, however, did not come to the rescue of jailed SUV driver whose bail plea was dismissed by a magisterial court later in the day. Judicial Magistrate Vinod Kumar rejected the bail plea of five accused, including SUV driver Manuj Kathuria, who was termed a "masti-khor" (fun lover) by the Delhi Police in their vehement opposition to his bail plea. In the high court, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said a "strange probe" was going on with the Delhi Police taking action against a man who drove a car outside the coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar here but not acting against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials. "What is the Delhi Police doing? Have they lost it? What are its officials who are monitoring the probe doing? This is a cover-up or what?" the court said. The bench said the police have arrested a bystander or some person who was driving the car over there. It asked whether some official (of MCD) has been held accountable for the incident till now. "We are telling you, once the responsibility is fixed on officials, no such incident will ever happen in future," the bench said. The high court was hearing a plea by an organisation, Kutumb, seeking the constitution of a high-level committee to investigate the deaths of the three civil service aspirants on the evening of July 27. During the hearing, the bench allowed an oral prayer of the petitioner's advocate Rudra Vikram Singh to implead Delhi Police as a party to the petition. "Where is the police? Who is investigating this matter? They are trying to get hold of any passerby or driver and saying this happened because you drove a car." "Has any official been caught or interrogated? Have they interrogated the official who has not de-silted this drain? Was the drain de-silted properly and in time?,” the court asked and said, "Some sort of very strange investigation is going on." The court hinted at asking a central agency to probe the incident and directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, deputy commissioner of police concerned and the investigating officer (IO) of the case to appear before it on Friday. Also read: India: Teen jumps to death, leaves behind 'log out note' tied to online game addiction It said this was strange that no MCD official has been hauled up till now. "We don't know whether the IO has seen the de-silting plan or the approved building construction plan. We have no idea whether he has done that or whether he has investigated the role of MCD officials," the bench said. The counsel for the Delhi government said he would take instructions from IO on the status of investigation and on the queries raised by the court and apprise it on Friday. Kathuria has been accused of driving his Force Gurkha car through the street that was flooded by rainwater, causing the water to swell and breach the gates of the three-storey building, where Rau's IAS Study Circle was being run, and inundate the basement. The police have registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106(1) (death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide), 115(2) (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 290 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings). Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Have they lost it?': Delhi High Court questions police arrest of SUV driver in coaching centre tragedy

In a tragic incident, three civil services students died in the Indian capital New Delhi after a competitive exam coaching centre's basement flooded on Saturday (July 27).

In a tragic incident, three civil services students died in the Indian capital New Delhi after a competitive exam coaching centre's basement flooded on Saturday (July 27). The Delhi Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the police are actively engaged in search and rescue efforts at the scene. According to the Delhi Police, "Basement of a coaching institute in the national capital filled with water. NDRF teams are at the spot." The fire department was alerted via a distress call around 7:00 pm (local time), leading to an urgent response. Attempts to reach the missing students via their phones have failed as the devices are not connecting. Authorities are conducting a thorough search of the coaching centre's basement to find the missing students. Meanwhile, Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj and MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi have arrived at the location to oversee the rescue operations. #WATCH | Old Rajender Nagar Incident | Delhi: Students continue to protest against the MCD and the coaching institute where three students lost their lives after the basement of the institute was filled with water yesterday pic.twitter.com/9Erd7TgOAt — ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024 × "A rescue operation was launched in Old Rajender Nagar, Delhi, following reports of children trapped in a waterlogged basement at 11-B, Bada Bazaar Marg, near Rao IAS Study Center," sources told India Today. Also read: India: Teen girl falls from roof after builder's brutal slap in viral incident; police hunt for accused The basement is filled with water, making it hard for divers to see and work. The fire department has brought in four motor pumps to remove the water. Five fire trucks were also at the scene to help with the rescue. Delhi Education Minister Atishi said the accident happened because of the heavy rain in New Delhi on Saturday evening. "There is news of water filling in the basement of a coaching institute in Rajendra Nagar. Delhi Fire Department and NDRF are on the spot. Delhi Mayor and local MLA are also there. I am taking updates of the incident every minute. A magistrate has been ordered to investigate how this incident happened. Whoever is responsible for this incident will not be spared," Atishi said in a post on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi: Three students dead after IAS coaching centre basement floods amid heavy rain

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'Have they lost it?': Delhi High Court questions police arrest of SUV driver in coaching centre tragedy

Delhi: Three students dead after IAS coaching centre basement floods amid heavy rain