Ryan International School's CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents, who are its founders, today approached the Bombay High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the murder of a seven-year-old boy in the institution's premises in Gurgaon.
The bail pleas were filed following the arrest of two top officials of the Ryan International School.
Also Read: Exclusive Video: India TV enters Ryan School bathroom where Pradhyumn was killed; here’s what it found
Two top officials of the Ryan International School were arrested while the acting principal detained for questioning in connection with the gruesome murder of the boy in the school premises in Gurgaon.
Earlier today, the father of the 7-year-old student of Ryan International School in Gurugram who was on Friday murdered inside the school today alleged that "there were security lapses" on part of the school as he planned to move the Supreme Court seeking CBI probe into the matter.
"There were security lapses, one of the reasons for Pradyuman's death," Varun Thakur, the father of Pradyuman, said before leaving for the Supreme Court from his Gurugram home today.
The Haryana government had yesterday said that it was open to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.
As it happened:
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# Haryana Police team reaches Ryan International School headquarters in Kandivali, Mumbai.
# Ashok's father has also said that his son is being pressurised to admit to the crime, and that he is being wrongly accused.
# In a major turnaround, the bus driver has said that the conductor Ashok is being wrongly accused, to cover up some other names.
# Ryan International Group's northern zone head Francis Thomas and Bhondsi branch coordinator sent on 2-day police remand
# This is not a matter concerning just one school, this is a matter affecting safety of children across the country: SC
# Supreme Court issues notice to Haryana Government, Centre, CBSE and CBI on Pradyuman's father's plea. Seeks reply in three weeks
# Haryana ADG Law And order Mohamedd Akeel, CP Gurugram Sandeep Khariwal, DCP Simarjeet singh visit Ryan International School
# Ryan International School CEO Ryan Pinto files anticipatory bail application in Bombay High Court
# 2 people from school management arrested yesterday; investigation will be done methodically: Police commissioner, Gurugram
# SC agrees to hear separate PIL raising the issue of lack of safety measures in private schools across the country.
# Pradyuman's father files plea in SC seeking CBI probe into the matter. Hearing at 12:45 pm
# 14 Haryana Police teams are working on Praduyman case. A team has been rushed to Mumbai to carry out investigation at Ryan Group's Head office, will question Group's owner
# Parents protest at Ryan International School in Greater Noida questioning safety of students after death of Pradyuman in Gurugram branch.
# 11 arrested for setting a liquor shop close to Ryan International School in Gurugram on fire yesterday.
# Arun Singh, SHO, Sohna sadar, suspended for the baton charging outside the school yesterday. Protesting parents and some mediapersons were injured in the lathicharge
# Ryan International Group's northern zone head Francis Thomas and branch (Bhondsi) coordinator arrested
# All campuses of Ryan International School in Gurugram to remain closed today and tomorrow amid protests, as per Haryana Government order
All campuses of Ryan International School in Gurugram to remain closed till Tuesday
The Haryana government on Monday ordered shut down of branches of all campuses of Ryan International School in Gurugram till Tuesday. The decision has been taken in view of a violent protest by parents of school children who are seeking CBI probe into the matter.
The government had on Sunday announced a holiday for today in the school in order to "maintain peace and harmony" near the premises.
A heavy police force have been deployed at the school amid reports that there may be more protest today.
Yesterday, an angry crowd torched a liquor shop, situated just 50 metres from the school in Gurugram. The protestors were demanding that the school be shut until a CBI probe is ordered into the horrifying incident in which the Class 2 boy Praduman Thakur was found with his throat slit in a school washroom on Friday last.
Police used batons to quell the protest and detained 20 protestors. Over 50 protestors and nine journalists from regional as well as national media were injured as the Gurgaon Police launched baton charges to quell the protest. Cameras of some photojournalists were also damaged.
'Open to CBI probe'
Haryana Education minister Ram Bilas Sharma had said yesterday that if the parents of the child insist on a probe by the CBI or any other agency, the government will accede to their demand. He, however, added that the charge sheet in the case will be ready within a week as he police were speedily conducting the probe.
"Police will file a charge sheet in the fast-track court within a week. If parents of the murdered student are not satisfied with their investigation, then the state government is ready for a probe by any agency, including the CBI", he said.
Gurgaon Police has arrested school bus conductor Ashok Kumar in connection with the murder. According to police, Kumar was inside the toilet, waiting for any student to come inside with the motive of alleged sexual assault. The deceased was the first student who entered the toilet, the police said.
Three-member committee finds major security lapses
A three-member fact finding committee, formed after the murder, has found major security lapses on part of its management, Rambilas Sharma said yesterday. Sharma said that the committee has found that there were no separate toilets and washrooms for the 40 bus drivers and conductors of the school.
Sharma further said that the government accepts that there was negligence on part of the school management, but "the school cannot be derecognised as the future of 1200 students was at stake".
"We have directed the Gurgaon Police to book the owner of Ryan International School, under section 75 Juvenile Justice (care and punishment act) Act 15 for punishment for cruelty to child meted out by the custodian and the charge sheet be submitted in the court within seven days," he said.
The school said yesterday that its management is "cooperating to our fullest" with the police investigations and hoped that the guilty would be given the severest punishment as per the law.
In a statement, Ryan Pinto, CEO of Ryan International Schools Group, said the school should not be held "culpable of a crime where it is itself a victim of unfortunate circumstances."
