Delhi High Court Asks CBI to Respond to Father’s Plea in RAU’s IAS Study Circle Drowning Case

New Delhi, September 24: The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond to an application by Dalvin Suresh, the father of a deceased UPSC aspirant, seeking a change in the Investigation Officer in the RAU’s IAS Study Circle drowning case. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued the notice and set the next hearing for November 27.

The court refused to stay the investigation, stating that the request was beyond the law. Dalvin Suresh, represented by advocate Abhijit Anand, challenged a trial court order that denied his request for a new investigating officer. The trial court had dismissed the application on September 20.

Dalvin Suresh’s son, Nevin Dalvin, drowned in the basement of RAU’s IAS Study Circle in Old Rajinder Nagar. The petitioner sought an investigation by an officer not below the rank of Inspector General and the arrest of officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Fire Services, and Delhi Police.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Nishant Garg dismissed the application, stating that the court does not have the power to direct the CBI to register an FIR or change the investigating officer. The court noted that the investigation is already being monitored by the Chief Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).

The application claimed that the library in the basement of RAU’s IAS Study Circle was operating illegally and without proper fire safety measures. Despite complaints, no action was taken by the authorities. The investigation was transferred to the CBI by the Delhi High Court on August 2, 2024.

Advocate Abhijit Anand argued that the investigation is biased and that no officials from MCD or DFS have been questioned. The CBI opposed the application, stating that the court lacks the authority to direct the investigation and that the investigation is being properly monitored by the CVC.