Protest petition allowed in coaching centre deaths case

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday allowed a protest petition seeking further investigation by the father of a deceased aspirant in the case pertaining to the death of three civil service aspirants in a flooded basement of a coaching centre in Old Rajendra Nagar on July 27, 2024. "The protest petition is allowed. The investigating officer is directed to conduct further investigation," said principal district and sessions judge Dinesh Bhatt of Rouse Avenue Courts. A reasoned order is awaited. Abhijit Anand, counsel for Dalvin Suresh, father of deceased Nevin Dalvin, had filed a petition alleging that the central agency's investigating officer did not conduct a "free and fair investigation". Last month, the CBI had filed its response. PTINew Delhi, Mar 12 (PTI) A Delhi court on Thursday allowed a protest petition seeking further investigation by the father of a deceased aspirant in the case pertaining to the death of three civil service aspirants in a flooded basement of a coaching centre in Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area on July 27, 2024."The protest petition is allowed. The Investigating Officer (IO) is directed to conduct further investigation," said Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt of the Rouse Avenue Courts.A reasoned order is awaited.Abhijit Anand, counsel for Dalvin Suresh, the father of the deceased Nevin Dalvin, had filed a petition alleging that the central agency's investigating officer (IO) did not conduct a "free and fair investigation"."The entire investigation has been conducted in a sham and casual manner and has not been investigated from all angles, as per the direction of the Delhi High Court," the petition dated January 9 claimed.Last month, the CBI had filed its response, saying, "The investigation has been conducted fairly, thoroughly, and in accordance with law, including the directions of the Delhi High Court. There is no justification for any further investigation, as all material evidence has been collected and examined from all relevant angles."According to the agency, the investigation was thorough, unbiased, and complete, and all relevant facts and material having a bearing on the outcome of the case were duly examined and placed on record.It denied the allegation that the IO had colluded with any accused person or Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and fire services officials.It said the role of Delhi Jal Board officials, the deputy commissioners of MCD Karol Bagh Zone and engineers concerned were thoroughly investigated."It has been established during the course of investigation that there used to be waterlogging in the concerned area of Old Rajinder Nagar," the CBI submitted, adding that the aspect of running the coaching centre from the basement of the building has also been established during the probe and is part of the charges against the accused public servants as well as private persons named in the chargesheet.The CBI filed its chargesheet on September 24, 2024, and a supplementary final report was filed on April 24, 2025.Earlier, on August 2, 2024, the Delhi High Court had transferred the case to the CBI, directing "a full-fledged investigation", including but not limited to criminal negligence, dereliction of duties and corrupt practices.It had pulled up the police for not questioning any MCD official or even seizing relevant files from the civic body, which, it held, could have been an important piece of evidence.The way the police were proceeding in the matter, it could have "fined the water, saying 'how dare it enter the coaching centre's basement", the high court had said, slamming the police probe. PTI MNR MNR KSSKSS