Murder At Ryan School: SC Reserves Decision On Plea Against Trustees’ Anticipatory Bail

A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice RK Agrawal has reserved its decision on a plea challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Augustine Francis Pinto and Grace Pinto, trustees of Ryan International School, by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the murder case of 7 year-old student Pradyuman.

The bench heard the arguments from the counsel of complainant-Barun Chandra Thakur, father of Pradyuman, and counsel for Pintos and then reserved its order.

Thakur’s counsel Sushil Tekriwal argued that this is a case of heinous crime and the larger conspiracy angle has to be unfolded.

“This is not only a case of murder, but there could be larger conspiracy also which needs to be unfolded,” the lawyer submitted, adding “Pintos have also suppressed some facts, including the present residential address issue, in their anticipatory bail plea”.

Considering these points, the apex court should cancel their bail, he argued.

Appearing for Pintos, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that Pintos were based in Mumbai and they were not liable for anything happened in a school in Delhi or Gurgaon. The CBI has already said there is no evidence against his clients.

“Pintos own more than 50 schools across the country. This is not a case of vicarious liability and the liability can’t be at the highest. They are not running away from the country. The high court has also recorded that they have to co-operate the investigation as and when required,” Rohatgi argued.

The high court had on September 28 stayed the arrest of these trustees of Ryan group who had sought anticipatory bail in this case. Subsequently, the court has made their bail absolute.

Pradyuman Thakur, a class-II student,  was found murdered in the washroom in Ryan International School, Gurgaon, on September 7.