Old Rajendra Nagar: High Court rejects bail plea of ​​co-owners of coaching institute

Old Rajendra Nagar: High Court rejects bail plea of ​​co-owners of coaching institute

Four co-owners of the basement coaching institute in Old Rajendra Nagar had approached the Delhi High Court for bail after the lower court rejected their previous application. On Friday, the lower court refused to grant bail to four co-owners of the basement of the coaching centre in Old Rajendra Nagar, where three IAS aspirants drowned on July 27, 2024. The court said the liability of the co-owners stems from their illegal act of allowing the basement to be used as a coaching institute.

Delhi High Court reprimands lower court |

Their fresh bail plea filed in the Delhi High Court said the lower court failed to consider that the applicants were not named in the FIR. Additionally, the plea highlights that the co-owners voluntarily reported to the police station and cooperated with the investigation, demonstrating their sincerity despite not being called by the investigating officer.

Their plea further states that the trial court ignored the principle that vicarious liability does not apply in criminal jurisprudence. Their plea states that strict criminal liability pertains only to the person who directly commits the criminal act, which in their view does not apply to the present applicant.

Accused argue tragedy was an act of God

In their previous bail plea, the accused argued that the tragic incident was caused by heavy rains, which they termed as an "act of God". They also blamed the civic agency for the area's poor sewer system. Before the trial court, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the case, has stated that the basement was designated only for storage and not for educational purposes. The agency claims that the accused were aware of the risks associated with running a coaching centre at that location. The court also considered the testimony of a Karol Bagh resident who had earlier raised concerns over Rao IAS running classes in the basement without permission. He had warned of a possible major accident a month before the incident. The court found that the accused were aware that allowing illegal use of the basement was putting people's lives at risk and this illegal use was directly linked to the tragic incident.