'Haven't challaned rainwater': HC roasts authorities, orders CBI to probe UPSC aspirants' death case

Three students drowned last week in the flooded basement of a coaching centre in Rajendra Nagar.

The Delhi High Court on Friday transferred the probe into the death of three UPSC aspirants at a coaching centre in Old Rajender Nagar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A high court bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the probe should be handed over to CBI after observing that no concrete action has been taken yet against MCD officials or others who were responsible.

"Having regard to the seriousness of incidents and that it may involve corruption by public servants, this court transfers the investigation to CBI," it said.

During a hearing on the PIL seeking a high-level investigation into the incident, the high court also pulled up the authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MDC), over the administrative situation in Delhi.

It rebuked the Delhi Police for arresting a businessman who was driving his SUV on the flooded road in front of the coaching centre and made a sarcastic remark as to why it has not yet "challaned the rainwater" for entering the basement.

"Mercifully, you have not challaned rainwater for entering into basement, the way you arrested the SUV driver for driving his car there," the court said.

During the hearing, the court  indicated that there are issues with the functioning of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and that a comprehensive review of the entire setup is necessary.

It noted that the civic body in Delhi is in dire straits.

“Financially you have gone to doldrums. We have passed judicial orders saying we will wound you up. You have no funds to pay salaries. And your officials say we are healthy, very healthy. No one is asking them about their personal financial health,” the court told MCD.

The bench asked why MCD officials did not inform the commissioner about non-functioning storm water drains in the area. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said MCD officials are not bothered and it has become a norm.

Tania Soni, Shreya Yadav - both 25 - and Navin Delvin, 28 - drowned last week in the flooded basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle in Delhi's Old Rajendra Nagar.

(With inputs from PTI)