Rau’s IAS Study Circle drownings: Delhi court grants interim bail to CEO Abhishek Gupta, coaching coordinator Deshpal Singh

Gupta was directed by the court to deposit Rs 2.5 crore with the Red Cross Society by the end of November.

“It is no doubt true that the basement of the premises was being used in contravention to the rules and regulations, however, at the same time the failure of civic authorities cannot be ignored,” said Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Rouse Avenue Court while granting the accused bail.

She added that both the accused had already spent 54 days in custody and that no purpose would be served by keeping them in custody any longer.

The accused were represented by senior advocates Sidharth Luthra, and Rebecca John, and advocates Mohit Saraf and Sanjeev Sharma.

Of the seven people arrested in relation to the case, all are currently out of jail: one has been granted regular bail and six others have been granted interim bail. The four co-owners of the basement where the aspirants had drowned were granted interim bail till January 30 by the Delhi High Court on September 13. The co-owners – Parvinder Singh, Tajinder Singh, Sarbjit Singh and Harvinder Singh – were also asked to pay Rs 5 crore to the Red Cross Society as a condition for their interim bail.

Calling what the co-owners did an “act of greed”, the high court also suggested that the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) appoint a committee chaired by a former judge to ensure that coaching centres do not violate norms and regulations. The Court had also suggested that the government designate a specific place in the city where coaching centres can operate.

On the other hand, Manuj Kathuria, the man who drove his SUV in a waterlogged lane near the centre and allegedly broke open the gates of the basement due to waves created by his vehicle was granted regular bail by a trial court in Delhi on August 1. The court had stated that Kathuria was implicated by the Delhi Police in “over-enthusiasm”.

A day later, on August 2, a division bench of the high court transferred the probe in the case from the Delhi Police to the CBI considering the possibility that the incident “may involve corruption by public servants”.

Advocate Abhijeet Anand representing Dalvin’s father had told a Delhi court earlier that no official has been interrogated or arrested by the CBI in the case. Complaining about the slow progress of the investigation, Anand had also alleged that various town planners (IAS officers) were involved in the building sanction plan and that perhaps Delhi’s chief secretary was also involved in the corruption.