RYAN: NO CLEAN CHIT TO PINTOS

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that possibility of conspiracy of Pinto family in the murder of Pradhyumn could not be ruled out at this stage.

GURGAON: The judicial custody of a Ryan school bus conductor, named as the main accused by the Gurgaon police in the murder of Class 2 student Pradhyumn Thakur, was on Friday extended by 14 days. Ashok Kumar, 42, was produced before the Gurgaon special court through video-conferencing from Bhondsi jail.

The Gurgaon police had arrested Kumar on September 8, accusing him of killing Pradhyumn after a failed sexual assault on him. The eight-yearold boy was found lying in a pool of blood outside a toilet at Ryan International School in Bhondsi.

The case took a twist when the CBI, which took over investigations, apprehended a Class 11 student of the school on November 7, saying his motive had been to postpone the exams and the parent-teachers meet. The agency also ruled out sexual assault.

On Thursday, hearing into Kumar’s bail plea was adjourned till November 20. “My client is innocent and he is framed by the Gurgaon police. The CCTV footage shown in the courtroom does not prove his role in the murder. He was seen entering the corridor after the victim but before the juvenile,” said advocate Mohit Verma, Kumar’s lawyer. In Thursday’s in-camera proceedings, CBI showed CCTV footage that captured movements of Kumar and the juvenile accused.