The Delhi High Court on Friday granted an extension of interim bail to four co-owners involved in the RAU’s IAS Study Circle case, where three UPSC aspirants tragically lost their lives. The court extended the bail for Sarabjit Singh, Parvinder Singh, Tejinder Singh, and Harvinder Singh until January 21, 2025. Additionally, the Supreme Court intervened to stay a previous High Court mandate that required the accused to deposit Rs. 2.5 crores with the Red Cross Society.
This high-profile case stems from a tragic incident in Old Rajinder Nagar, highlighting the perils of unauthorized basement usage as coaching facilities. The initial interim bail conditions were set during a September 13, 2024, hearing, which also included a similar Rs. 5 crore deposit condition for CEO Abhishek Gupta, now also stayed by the Supreme Court.
The legal proceedings began when the Rouse Avenue Court granted interim bail to Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh on September 23, 2024. The Delhi High Court has been active in addressing broader issues related to this case, including the illegal conversion of basements into coaching centers, which directly contributed to the unsafe conditions leading to the aspirants’ deaths.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma has also called on the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to form a committee led by a retired High Court judge to inspect and regulate such coaching centers across the city, ensuring compliance with safety and legal standards.
The trial court had initially denied bail to the basement co-owners, citing their complicity in misusing the property, which was deemed a significant factor in the ensuing tragedy. With the trial set to continue on December 7, 2024, and further High Court hearings scheduled for late January 2025, the case is drawing significant attention to the need for stringent regulatory oversight in educational institutions.
