Death of IAS aspirant: Complaint about illegal use of basement filed with MCD a few days before tragic incident

A complaint regarding the alleged illegal use of the basement as a library by Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, was filed with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), days before three prospective students for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) drowned in the flooded basement of the institution.

According to a report in the Indian Express, Kishor Singh Kushwah, a UPSC aspirant, filed a complaint against the coaching centre last month for flouting infrastructure norms and using the basement illegally.

He had also complained that the training institute was running a classroom in the basement without an NOC. In his complaint, he had pointed out this dangerous practice.

“Despite not having any permission, the institute is running a classroom in the basement without NOC. Major UPSC coaching institutes are conducting classes in illegal places, thereby endangering the lives of students. There is a danger and possibility of a major accident, so I have informed the concerned organisation about the corruption in the MCD in this regard,” Kushwah said in his complaint.

Kushwaha had sent two warnings on July 15 and 22, just five days before the tragic incident. However, no action was taken in the following days. The “current status” of the online complaint is “in process”.

MCD’s tough approach against coaching institutes:

After the tragic incident came to light, the MCD initiated action against illegal tutoring centres and announced the setting up of a high-level commission to investigate the flooding of the basement of the tutoring institute, which led to the death of three government employees.

A team of the civic body arrived in the Old Rajinder Nagar area to seal off several illegally operating basements of coaching centres, a statement from the Delhi government said. During the operation, which lasted late into Sunday night, around 13 such coaching centres were sealed off.

These included IAS Gurukul, Chahal Academy, Plutus Academy, Sai Trading, IAS Setu, Topper’s Academy, Dainik Samvad, Civils Daily IAS, Career Power, 99 Notes, Vidya Guru, Guidance IAS and Easy for IAS.

“It was found that these tutoring centres were operating in basements in violation of regulations. They were immediately sealed and appropriate notices were put up,” the statement said.

What happened at Rau’s Academy?

Three students drowned in the basement of Rau IAS Study Circle coaching centre after it was flooded due to heavy rains on Saturday.

The basement was 2.5 metres below ground level and several students were inside when the incident occurred on Saturday evening.

Disaster rescue teams recovered the bodies of two women and a man from the accident site after seven hours. Police identified the victims as Shreya Yadav (25) from Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni (25) from Telangana and Navin Dalwin (28) from Ernakulam in Kerala.

The owner and coordinator of the training centre were arrested and charged with, among other things, wilful killing. Police identified the owner as Abhishek Gupta and the other accused as Deshpal Singh. Both the accused were remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.