SUV Driver Granted Bail in Coaching Centre Flood Tragedy

A court granted bail to Manuj Kathuria, an SUV driver accused in the death of three civil services aspirants due to flooding at a coaching centre. The Delhi Police dropped the harsher charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The detailed court order is awaited.

Manuj Kathuria, an SUV driver accused in connection with the tragic drowning of three civil services aspirants in a coaching centre basement, has been granted bail by a Delhi court. The court's decision came on Thursday after the police opted to withdraw the severe charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Kathuria.

During the proceedings, the Delhi Police informed the court that recent investigations could not sufficiently establish the charge under section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). As a result, the primary offense now stands as reckless driving under section 281 BNS, pending the findings of an expert team from IIT-Delhi.

The initial denial of bail by a magisterial court was challenged, leading to Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar's decision to grant bail. The judge's detailed order is still awaited. Meanwhile, other individuals connected to the incident, including the owner and coordinator of the affected coaching centre's basement, remain in judicial custody.

(With inputs from agencies.)