UPSC aspirant death case: Delhi HC to hear Abhishek Gupta's plea for waiver of financial condition on interim bail

NEW DELHI:The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a plea by Abhishek Gupta, CEO of RAU IAS Study Circle, seeking the removal of a Rs 2.5 crore financial condition imposed as part of his interim bail. The hearing is set for Thursday.
Gupta was granted interim bail on 23rd September 2024 in connection with the deaths of three UPSC aspirants who drowned in a flooded basement in Old Rajinder Nagar. As part of the bail conditions, the court had directed Gupta to deposit Rs 2.5 crore with the Red Cross Society.
Justice Vikas Mahajan listed the case for arguments on Thursday after the counsel for the complainant informed the court they were occupied with a matter in the Supreme Court.
Gupta's counsel argued that the Supreme Court has already stayed the financial condition and noted that the Delhi High Court had granted regular bail to the four co-accused, co-owners of the basement, on 21st January.
The trial court had initially granted interim bail to Abhishek Gupta and coordinator Deshpal Singh, which has since been extended multiple times. The case is also listed before the trial court on 31st January.
On 7th December 2024, Gupta's legal team informed the trial court that the Rs 2.5 crore condition had been challenged in the High Court. The High Court has since extended the interim bail of the four co-owners until 21st January 2025.
In addition, the Supreme Court has stayed the directive requiring Gupta to deposit Rs 2.5 crore with the Red Cross.
Earlier, Justice DK Sharma had requested the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to form a committee, under the supervision of a retired High Court judge, to ensure that no coaching centres operate illegally in basements across Delhi.
The court had also ordered the four co-owners of the basement to deposit Rs 5 crore with the Red Cross Society.
In prior proceedings, the Delhi High Court directed the CBI to submit a status report addressing the primary causes of waterlogging in the area and the rainfall data for the day of the incident.
The trial court had previously denied bail to the four co-owners, holding them liable for their illegal act of allowing the basement to be used as a coaching centre.
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