Court Reserves Bail Ruling for Driver in Flood Deaths

Manuj Kathuria, the SUV driver accused of causing the deaths of three civil services aspirants in a flooded coaching centre basement in Old Rajinder Nagar, had his bail plea hearing concluded, with the court reserving its decision for Wednesday. Kathuria is charged with driving at high speed through a flooded street, which allegedly broke the gates of the coaching centre, allowing water to inundate the basement where the students drowned. His counsel argued that he did not intend to cause harm and blamed municipal authorities for poor water management, while the prosecution cited videos of his reckless driving as evidence of negligence. Additional Public Prosecutor Atul Srivastava contended that releasing Kathuria could lead to witness tampering as the investigation is ongoing. The court also heard claims that the basement’s illegal operation contributed to the tragedy, highlighting systemic failures beyond the driver's actions. The case has sparked public outrage, with students protesting for accountability from the authorities involved in the incident.