Govt seeks FIR against school over ‘illegal activities’

“On Monday, the SDM, DM and other officers concerned raided the school campus. Among other irregularities, the team found storage capacity of at least 2,500 litres of diesel in the basement,” Manish Sisodia said.

The Delhi government on Friday said it had sought an FIR against KR Mangalam School in Greater Kailash II for alleged illegal activities, including storing diesel in large quantities in the basement of the building.

The Delhi government on Friday said it had sought an FIR against KR Mangalam School in Greater Kailash II for alleged illegal activities, including storing diesel in large quantities in the basement of the building. (Diwakar Prasad/ Hindustan Times)

“On Monday, the SDM, DM and other officers concerned raided the school campus. Among other irregularities, the team found storage capacity of at least 2,500 litres of diesel in the basement,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday at a press meeting. He added that a tank had diesel in it.

Sisodia parents had complained about “illegal fuel tanks in the ground”, boring of water and illegal construction.

“I will hold a meeting with the parents on Monday to assure them,” he said, adding the diesel was taken out and the place had been filled with sand.

The school denied the allegations. “The quantity of diesel that was stored was within permissible limits. Secondly, ours is an air-conditioned school. There are four generators to maintain power supply else children would suffocate. This is why diesel was stored,” SL Bansal, Director of KR Mangalam Group of Schools, said adding the school had an NoC from the fire department.

Bansal added, “The diesel was stored underground outside the building, approximately 25-30 metres away. If an FIR has been lodged, we will explore whatever legal remedies are available.”

Delhi Fire Service’s chief fire officer Atul Garg said, “There is no limit on how much diesel could be stored and it depends on the requirement. Permission is granted by the Police Licensing Unit. The NOC is issued after deciding if they have required safekeeping of diesel.”