NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation had doubts over Gurugram police's theory that bus conductor Ashok Kumar killed seven-year-old Pradhyumn inside the school washroom and kept the Class 11 student on its list of "suspects" from the very beginning.
The agency is now focusing on the possible role of another student either in abetting the murder or helping in concealing the facts and destroying the evidence.
Sources say that the CBI has not yet detained or questioned any other student who was said to be seen with the apprehended juvenile. But the officials are not ruling out the possibility of someone else's involvement in the crime.
The statement of this second boy was earlier recorded by Gurugram police in front of a magistrate. The CBI is now verifying whether there were any discrepancies in his statements.
After taking over the probe from Gurugram police on September 22, the CBI thoroughly examined the CCTV footage from a week before the murder date - September 8.
Within six days, on September 28, the agency raided the residence of the accused boy and recovered some articles/documents, which it felt were important.
In fact, it informed the court the next day that it wanted to retain the articles/documents recovered from the accused juvenile's house for the purpose of investigation. The Gurugram court, while sending three accused at that time - Ashok Kumar, Francis Thomas (Ryan Group's northern zone head) and Jeyus Thomas (school's HR head) to judicial custody, allowed the central agency to retain articles/documents seized from the juvenile's house. TOI has the copy of court order.
When asked on Friday, the agency refused to divulge the nature of articles/documents recovered from the 'prime suspect'.
Sources said that the recovery material has been kept 'secret' because it's crucial for the probe.
The recoveries made from the boy are being forensically examined, said sources.
CBI officials told TOI that the juvenile's conduct was "suspicious" from the beginning as CCTV footage and circumstantial evidence clearly pointed towards his involvement in the crime. "But he was apprehended this week, almost one and a half months later, only after thorough examination of available evidence and eliminating other suspects," said an officer requesting anonymity.
The CBI has claimed that Class 11 student slit seven-year-old Pradhyumn's throat after luring him inside the school washroom on September 8 as he wanted the school to postpone the exams and parent-teacher meeting (PTM).
The central agency has virtually given a clean chit to conductor Ashok Kumar and also ruled out the sexual assault angle.
The agency is now focusing on the possible role of another student either in abetting the murder or helping in concealing the facts and destroying the evidence.
Sources say that the CBI has not yet detained or questioned any other student who was said to be seen with the apprehended juvenile. But the officials are not ruling out the possibility of someone else's involvement in the crime.
The statement of this second boy was earlier recorded by Gurugram police in front of a magistrate. The CBI is now verifying whether there were any discrepancies in his statements.
After taking over the probe from Gurugram police on September 22, the CBI thoroughly examined the CCTV footage from a week before the murder date - September 8.
Within six days, on September 28, the agency raided the residence of the accused boy and recovered some articles/documents, which it felt were important.
In fact, it informed the court the next day that it wanted to retain the articles/documents recovered from the accused juvenile's house for the purpose of investigation. The Gurugram court, while sending three accused at that time - Ashok Kumar, Francis Thomas (Ryan Group's northern zone head) and Jeyus Thomas (school's HR head) to judicial custody, allowed the central agency to retain articles/documents seized from the juvenile's house. TOI has the copy of court order.
When asked on Friday, the agency refused to divulge the nature of articles/documents recovered from the 'prime suspect'.
Sources said that the recovery material has been kept 'secret' because it's crucial for the probe.
The recoveries made from the boy are being forensically examined, said sources.
CBI officials told TOI that the juvenile's conduct was "suspicious" from the beginning as CCTV footage and circumstantial evidence clearly pointed towards his involvement in the crime. "But he was apprehended this week, almost one and a half months later, only after thorough examination of available evidence and eliminating other suspects," said an officer requesting anonymity.
The CBI has claimed that Class 11 student slit seven-year-old Pradhyumn's throat after luring him inside the school washroom on September 8 as he wanted the school to postpone the exams and parent-teacher meeting (PTM).
The central agency has virtually given a clean chit to conductor Ashok Kumar and also ruled out the sexual assault angle.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
