Delhi Teen Falls to Death During Reel Recording at Abandoned Mall, Family Alleges Lapses

A 16-year-old schoolboy died after falling more than 60 feet through a skylight inside a long-shuttered shopping mall in Delhi's Model Town on Sunday evening, triggering an investigation amid allegations of foul play by the family.

The teenager, identified as Kavin Kumar, was a Class 11 student at a private school in Ashok Vihar. Police said he had gone to the abandoned North Gate mall with three classmates to spend time and record videos for social media. The mall has remained closed since 2012.

What police say happened

According to investigators, the group accessed the four-storey building and reached the top floor using the staircase. A senior police officer familiar with the inquiry said Kavin climbed onto a fibreglass shed that had been installed as a gallery cover between shops.

"The shed could not bear his weight and collapsed, causing him to fall to the ground floor," the officer said. Kavin suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Pentamed Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The incident was reported to Model Town police station at 5.51 pm. Preliminary findings suggest the teenagers were filming short videos intended for social media reels. Police have examined videos recorded moments before the fall, which were shown by the classmates present at the site.

Family raises questions, alleges foul play

Kavin's family has questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and the conduct of his friends. His paternal uncle, Sudhir Kumar, said the boy left home around 5.30 pm after telling his mother he was going nearby to play billiards.

"About half an hour later, his mother received a call from his friend's mother. That friend was not even with Kavin at the time," Sudhir said. He added that the family was disturbed by the fact that those present at the scene did not immediately inform them.

"The first thing they should have done was to call the family, but they did not. Information was circulating in school groups around the same time we heard from the hospital," he said.

Another uncle, Munit Kumar, suggested the possibility that Kavin may have been pushed into a risky act. "We suspect the classmates may have dared him, which is why he tried to walk on the shed," he said.

The family has also questioned how minors were able to enter a commercial complex that has been shut for over a decade. "If the mall has been closed since 2012, how did children manage to get inside? The management should have ensured that entry points were sealed," Munit said.

Probe underway, inquest initiated

Police said they are examining the statements of all classmates present and are assessing the family's allegations. Inquest proceedings have been initiated to establish the sequence of events and determine whether negligence or external factors played a role.

Kavin is survived by his father Rahul, who runs an export business, his mother Parul, a homemaker, and an elder sister who is studying in Canada. Relatives described him as a bright and disciplined student who was highly conscious about fitness. He had set up a small gym at home and worked out daily for nearly two hours.

A cousin recalled that Kavin had been eagerly planning a family dinner on Sunday and was looking forward to his sister's return from Canada on December 31.

"He was such a smart boy. I have no idea how this happened. He was very excited about the dinner he was organising with his mother and was counting the days until his sister came back," the cousin said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and further action will be taken based on forensic findings and witness statements.