IIT-Delhi Professors Examine SUV, Gate in Probe of UPSC Aspirants' Drowning

A team of IIT-Delhi professors has examined the SUV involved in the drowning of three civil services aspirants at Raus IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, according to the CBI. The experts measured the vehicle and the gate of the building housing the coaching centre on Sunday.

The CBI has requested an additional week to have a motor vehicle inspector examine the SUV, a Force Gurkha. This request was made in response to the vehicle owner's plea for its release. The agency's investigation revealed that on July 27, around 6:30 pm, heavy rainfall caused rainwater to enter the ground floor and subsequently flood the basement of the coaching institute.

Details of the Incident

The postmortem report indicated that the three UPSC aspirants died due to asphyxia caused by antemortem drowning during the flooding on July 27. The students were studying in the library located in the basement when rainwater entered due to a sudden fall of sliding gates, leading to flooding.

The CBI's investigation showed that Raus IAS was operating in a building with multiple floors, including a basement used as a library. Students would sit there throughout the day for study and tests conducted by the institute. The building also had stilt/parking, upper ground floor, first floor, second floor, and third floor.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

The case is being investigated under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 105 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The Delhi High Court transferred the case from Delhi Police to CBI on August 2.

The CBI stated that three students—Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nevin Dalvin—died in this incident. The agency's report highlighted that several students were present in the basement library when heavy rainfall led to flooding.

The central agency submitted its findings before a special court, detailing how rainwater entered the ground floor and then flooded the basement due to a sudden fall of sliding gates. This led to tragic consequences for those studying in the basement library.

The investigation continues as authorities seek further examination of the SUV by a domain expert. The CBI aims to gather comprehensive evidence before proceeding with legal actions against those responsible for maintaining safety at Raus IAS Study Circle.

Efforts are ongoing to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents in future educational settings. The case remains under close scrutiny as investigators work towards uncovering all details surrounding this tragic event.