GURUGRAM: The probe into the murder of Class 2 student Pradhyumn Thakur, inside the Bhondsi campus of Ryan International School, took an unexpected turn on Wednesday after the CBI produced a Class XI student of the same school as an accused before the Gurgaon juvenile court, which sent the boy to a correction home for three days.
Arguing they have to recover certain items related to the case, as well as recreate the crime scene, CBI had sought six days from the court. Eventually, judicial magistrate (first class) Devender Singh granted three days, with the rider CBI can interview the student only between 10am and 6pm while he spends the nights at a correction home in Faridabad. He will be produced before court again on Saturday.
"We opposed CBI's request for remand. After hearing all parties, the court granted them three days," said advocate Sandeep Aneja, counsel for the accused. Advocate C K Sharma, another counsel, said their client is being falsely implicated by CBI. "So far, CBI has not produced anything to show his involvement in the case," said Sharma. The father of the accused, himself a lawyer and a member of Gurgaon district bar association, said, "My son is innocent."
A relative of the accused student, who was present in court, claimed the boy had scored over 80% marks in the Class X board exam. "We've not witnessed any change in his behaviour since the day of the murder. He was leading a normal life," he said, adding he was the one who had first spotted Pradhyumn lying in the bathroom floor and informed school staff.
"We've been cooperating with CBI. Two days back, the accused was called to the CBI office in Delhi, where he was confronted with some school staff and teachers and made to sign on a blank paper. On Tuesday, he was detained and today they produced him before court," he said, adding they are shocked with the way CBI has probed the case.
Local lawyers, who had boycotted bus conductor Ashok Kumar — the prime accused in the case filed by Gurgaon police, and arrested Ryan officials Francis Thomas and Jayesh Thomas — were present in full strength at the juvenile court premises, in solidarity with the father of the accused student, who is a member of the bar. "Law is equal for everyone, even for lawyers. We will not support anyone involved in unlawful activity, but we will defend our members if they are being framed," said Gurgaon district bar association president Sudesh Yadav.
"Lawyers are human and have emotions. After the Ryan incident, we made an emotional decision to boycott the accused. After the Supreme Court's order, the bar will support legal proceedings," added Yadav.
Arguing they have to recover certain items related to the case, as well as recreate the crime scene, CBI had sought six days from the court. Eventually, judicial magistrate (first class) Devender Singh granted three days, with the rider CBI can interview the student only between 10am and 6pm while he spends the nights at a correction home in Faridabad. He will be produced before court again on Saturday.
"We opposed CBI's request for remand. After hearing all parties, the court granted them three days," said advocate Sandeep Aneja, counsel for the accused. Advocate C K Sharma, another counsel, said their client is being falsely implicated by CBI. "So far, CBI has not produced anything to show his involvement in the case," said Sharma. The father of the accused, himself a lawyer and a member of Gurgaon district bar association, said, "My son is innocent."
A relative of the accused student, who was present in court, claimed the boy had scored over 80% marks in the Class X board exam. "We've not witnessed any change in his behaviour since the day of the murder. He was leading a normal life," he said, adding he was the one who had first spotted Pradhyumn lying in the bathroom floor and informed school staff.
"We've been cooperating with CBI. Two days back, the accused was called to the CBI office in Delhi, where he was confronted with some school staff and teachers and made to sign on a blank paper. On Tuesday, he was detained and today they produced him before court," he said, adding they are shocked with the way CBI has probed the case.
Local lawyers, who had boycotted bus conductor Ashok Kumar — the prime accused in the case filed by Gurgaon police, and arrested Ryan officials Francis Thomas and Jayesh Thomas — were present in full strength at the juvenile court premises, in solidarity with the father of the accused student, who is a member of the bar. "Law is equal for everyone, even for lawyers. We will not support anyone involved in unlawful activity, but we will defend our members if they are being framed," said Gurgaon district bar association president Sudesh Yadav.
"Lawyers are human and have emotions. After the Ryan incident, we made an emotional decision to boycott the accused. After the Supreme Court's order, the bar will support legal proceedings," added Yadav.
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