The Patiala House Court on Thursday denied anticipatory bail to advocate Shubham Tyagi, the operator of a paying guest accommodation in Delhi's Satya Niketan area, in connection with the building collapse that killed seven people and injured several others on September 6. The court rejected Tyagi's plea after considering the submissions made by the lawyers and the evidence collected against him during the investigation. The statement of an injured student was among the material examined by the court while deciding the application. The case concerns the circumstances surrounding the collapse and the alleged roles of people associated with the property and its operation.

Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler observed that the investigation was still at an initial stage and that several aspects concerning Tyagi's alleged involvement required further examination. The court particularly said investigators needed to determine his knowledge of the relevant circumstances, his consent and his financial and operational role in the premises. These questions, the court noted, could not be conclusively assessed at the present stage of the investigation. The judge therefore found that the circumstances did not justify extending the protection sought by Tyagi through his anticipatory bail application.

The court also took note of the rent agreement associated with the property, observing that the document had been suppressed in the bail application. The omission was considered while assessing the plea and the material available against the applicant. The court's observations indicate that investigators are examining not only the immediate circumstances of the building collapse but also the arrangements under which the premises were being operated. The rent agreement could therefore be relevant to determining the respective responsibilities and roles of people connected with the property.

Also Read: Delhi Building Collapse: Owner's Son, PG Operator, Contractor Sent to Two-Day Police Custody

Tyagi's plea was also considered in light of the statement provided by an injured student. The court took the statement into account along with the other evidence placed before it by the investigating authorities. The material was examined at a stage when the probe remains underway and further evidence could still be collected. The court consequently did not accept the argument that Tyagi should receive pre-arrest protection while the investigation proceeds. Instead, it concluded that the circumstances warranted allowing investigators to continue examining his alleged involvement.

The September 6 collapse resulted in the deaths of seven people and injuries to several others, leading to a criminal investigation and arrests. The court was informed that five accused persons had been arrested in the case so far. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that preceded the collapse and the possible responsibility of those associated with the property. The arrests are part of the ongoing probe, while the court's latest order concerns Tyagi's request for anticipatory bail and does not bring the investigation into the wider case to an end.

In its order, the court said there was a need for further investigation into Tyagi's knowledge, consent and financial or operational role before his position in the case could be fully assessed. On that basis, Additional Sessions Judge Laler held that the matter was not a fit case for granting anticipatory bail. Tyagi therefore does not receive pre-arrest protection from the court at this stage. The investigation into the Satya Niketan building collapse will continue, with authorities expected to examine the available evidence and the individual roles of those accused as the probe progresses.

Also Read: Delhi PG Collapse: High Court Demands Accountability, Five Senior Civic Officials Suspended