Delhi, July 28, 2024 – Delhi Police have arrested five additional individuals in connection with the tragic deaths of three civil service aspirants who drowned in the basement of a coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar. This brings the total number of arrests to seven. The arrests include the building owner and four of his relatives, as well as the owner of a Force Gurkha SUV, which allegedly damaged the coaching centre’s gate during heavy rains.
Deputy Commissioner of Police M Harshavardhan assured that “Whoever is at fault in this incident will not be spared.” The police are rigorously investigating the building’s structural integrity, the local municipality’s role in drainage management, and the illegal use of the basement as a library.
In response to the incident, the Delhi Fire Service is conducting an inspection of the building, and preparations are underway to clear encroachments near Rau’s IAS Study Centre. Bulldozers have been deployed to remove illegal structures. The Delhi government has already sealed thirteen coaching centres operating illegally in basements.
The tragedy, which claimed the lives of students Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Navin Dalwin, has sparked public outrage and protests. Security has been heightened in the Old Rajendra Nagar area to maintain order. The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
“We are committed to ensuring justice for the victims and preventing future tragedies,” stated a senior police officer.
