Pradyuman’s father moves HC, seeks dismissal of accused’s bail plea
The father of Pradyuman Thakur (7), whose throat was slit in Gurgaon’s Ryan International School, on Wednesday approached the Bombay High Court, seeking dismissal of the anticipatory bail pleas filed by trustees and founders of the school. The HC has, however, adjourned the matter for hearing till Thursday, extending the interim protection from arrest to the Pinto family.
Barun Chandra Thakur filed an intervention application through his advocate Sushil Tekriwal opposing the transit anticipatory bail pleas filed by Ryan Pinto, CEO of the Ryan International Group. Thakur has also opposed the pleas of Augustine and Grace Pinto, the founder and managing director of the group.
The matter was taken up for hearing by Justice Ajay Gadkari, but he was informed that Thakur has not served the copy of his application to the legal team that represents Pintos.
During the course of the hearing, advocate Niteen Pradhan, appearing for Pintos, told the court that the Haryana Bar Association has passed a resolution against all the accused in the case and that it has decided not to provide any legal assistance to the accused in the case. He also apprised the court that some accused have moved the Supreme Court in this regard and that the Chief Justice of India is likely to hear the matter on Monday. Accordingly, he sought an adjournment. Thakur’s advocate urged the court to decide the matter at the earliest.
Taking a note of the fact that Thakur has not served his copy, Justice Gadkari, deferred the matter until Thursday. Justice Gadkari, however, clarified that he would hear the matter on Thursday itself and refused to adjourn the matter till Monday. In his plea, Thakur has said that the nation’s collective conscience has been shattered by this “rarest of rare, diabolical, cold blooded, demonic, unpardonable and cruel homicide” incident.
The petition reads, “The Pintos are vicariously responsible for the culpability and their pleas should be dismissed in limine. The remorseless, and senseless approach of the school management, its Directors/CEO and other top notch executives in this case is absolutely inexcusable.”
Urging the court to dismiss their pleas, Thakur states, “If the top management of the school can share in the plunder and prosperity, why shouldn’t they be susceptible in subjecting themselves to the clutches of law and to the vicarious liability especially when their negligence and ignorance, such incidents take place within the walls of a school.”