Manuj Kathuria runs a Youtube channel about cars. (Youtube)
Advocate Rakesh Malhotra said, “There are a lot of vehicles crossing the stretch before and after Katuria. While crossing the road, no one can predict what will happen inside the building. The same wave hits all around Of all the buildings… How can a man walking on a road that is open constitute a crime?
Saturday was just another day in the life of businessman Manuj Kathuria, who made his way home in heavy rain in Delhi to reunite with his wife and elderly parents. Driving at a speed of 15 km/h, he crossed the flooded Bada Bazar Road in Rajinder Nagar, the IAS research circle in Rau, to reach his home near Sir Ganga Ram Hospital – less than a kilometer away.
Little did he know that while crossing the flooded road, he allegedly broke down the gate of the Lau IAS research circle. The basement of the building housing the coaching center library was flooded, resulting in the death of three IAS trainees. Kathuria has been booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – culpable homicide but not murder.
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Speaking to News18, Kathuria's lawyer Rakesh Malhotra said that his client was on his way home and the traffic speed on the road was 15 kmph, which was lower than the permissible speed. limit. “He was booked under BNS section 105 as he was driving on the lane where the building was located. There was standing water on the road. As he moved the car on the flooded road, some ripples were created and the waves touched The building. The gate collapsed, water flowed inside and a very unfortunate incident occurred, resulting in the death of three students,” he said.
“Other vehicles also passed the test”
Malhotra said their counter showed that the road was open for vehicular traffic and that it was not Katuria's car alone. Other vehicles passed in front and behind him.
“When passing a road, no one can predict what happens inside a building. The same wave sweeps over all the surrounding buildings. The owners abuse their houses and the municipality does not take action against this abuse. There is no traffic or local traffic on the road The police came to regulate the movement of vehicles. How could it be his fault that a man was walking on a road that was open to traffic?
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“Complaints, illegal practices at coaching center ignored”
He also said that a man complained about flooding in the area a few days ago, saying that there was too much water on the road and accidents might occur. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) took no action and a man has been arrested to appease the angry students. “What was arrested was not the real culprit. There were so many accused in this case that the real accused could escape,” Malhotra said in his defence. “
His bail is set to expire on Tuesday. On Monday, a local court sent him to judicial custody until August 12.
The family declined to comment for this story.
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Run a YouTube channel
Kathuria driving his 2021 Force Gurkha – 4×4. The Bharat Stage VI diesel vehicle was registered in November 2021 in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
“This channel will be about my off-road driving, overland travel and exploration, and my 2021 Force Gurkha model Asterix,” reads the description of the channel, which has 821,000 subscribers and 49 videos.
