Businessman, YouTuber & Now In Jail: All About Manuj Kathuria Arrested For Driving Past Delhi Coaching Centre

Saturday was like any other day in the life of businessman Manuj Kathuria, who was heading home to his wife and old parents amid heavy rain in Delhi. Driving at a speed of 15 kmph, he crossed the flooded Bada Bazar Road in Rajinder Nagar, Rau’s IAS Study Circle and went to his home near the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital – hardly a kilometer away.

Little did he know that while crossing the flooded road, he allegedly broke the gate of the Rau’s IAS Study Circle. Three IAS aspirants were killed after the basement of the building, where the coaching centre’s library was functioning, was flooded. Kathuria has been arrested under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Speaking to News18, Kathuria’s lawyer Rakesh Malhotra said his client was on his way home on a road that allowed traffic movement at a speed of 15 kmph, under the permissible limits. “He has been booked under Section 105 of the BNS on account that he was driving in a lane where the building was. There was waterlogging on the road. When he moved the car on the flooded road, some ripples were created and the waves touched the building. The gate collapsed and the water went inside, where a very unfortunate incident took place, killing three students,” he said.

‘OTHER VEHICLES ALSO PASSED THE STRETCH’

Malhotra said their counter was that the road was open for traffic and it was not Kathuria’s car alone. Other vehicles, too, passed before and after him.

“While passing a road, nobody can anticipate what is happening inside a building. The same wave went to all the buildings around. The building owner is misusing his premises and civic authorities are not taking action against it. There were no traffic or local police officers on the road to manage the vehicular movement. A man went on a road that was open to traffic. How is it his fault?” said the lawyer.

‘COMPLAINT, COACHING CENTRE’S ILLEGALITIES IGNORED’

He also said that a few days ago, a man had raised a complaint of waterlogging in the area, saying some mishap could happen with the amount of water on the road. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) took no action and a man has now been arrested to satisfy the agitated students. “Instead of the real culprit, these arrests are being made. Make so many accused in a case that the actual accused can escape,” Malhotra said in his defence.

His bail was due on Tuesday. On Monday, a local court sent him to judicial custody till August 12.

FAMILY REACTS

Speaking to News18, Kathuria’a wife, Shima, said: “On Sunday evening, police came to my house and asked my husband about the incident. They said his car was driving in front of the institute when the incident happened and they would like to take him for questioning. Obviously when the police show up at your door you get worried but they assured us there will be no criminal liability. They asked him to go in the same car and said you and your vehicle will be back very soon after the questioning is over.”

However, she said within 20 minutes, her father-in-law received a call from Kathuria that they were arresting him. “We panicked. For a long time we didn’t know what the charges were. And then we got to know they were putting the gravest of charges — 105 — which is non-bailable. Next day, our legal counsel made several requests to get the FIR copy but it was denied by labelling it a sensitive matter. We were finally handed over the FIR copy in front of the judge when the hearing was going on. So the counsel also had no way to prepare for the hearings.”

Kathuria’s wife said the video clearly showed the car was not speeding as has been alleged by the police. “The brake lights were on. In a situation where the water comes up to the bonnet of your car, no person wants to deliberately get into that so he was constantly braking. When he realized the water had come up to the bonnet, it was too late for him to turn back. The only way forward was to cross the waterlogged road and get to a safe spot which anyone who drives will do. That’s what he did.”

Expressing faith in the judiciary, she said she was sure her husband would be out soon. “The car was moving in first gear. My husband has done nothing wrong. We trust our judicial system. I am sure he will be out soon.”

She added: “We will do whatever it takes to clear his name. He was just an innocent bystander trying to get to a safe spot in a situation like that. I am sure the judiciary will take note of that and justice will prevail.”

RUNS A YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Kathuria was driving his 2021 model Force Gurkha – 4×4. The Bharat Stage VI diesel vehicle was registered in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan in November 2021. He also has a YouTube channel about his car ‘Indian Overlander’.

“This channel will be about my Offroad drives, Overland Travel and Exploration with my 2021 model Force Gurkha named Asterix,” the description of the channel, which has 8.21K subscribers and 49 videos, reads.