HC Judge recuses himself from hearing

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

Justice AB Chaudhari of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today recused himself from hearing a petition seeking anticipatory bail filed by the founders of the Ryan group of institutions.

The owners of the Ryan group of institutions, Augustine Pinto, his wife and managing director (MD) Grace Pinto and their son Ryan Pinto had moved the High Court seeking stay on their arrest in the Pradyuman murder case.

Justice Chaudhari verbally observed in the open courtroom that the Pinto family is known to him. As such, he would not hear the matter. He referred the matter to the Chief Justice for placing the case before an appropriate Bench. The case would now come up before some other Bench tomorrow.

The family, in the petition, prayed for issuance of directions on their release on bail in case of arrest in connection to the FIR registered at Bhondsi police station in Gurugram on September 8.

Augustine Pinto and Grace Pinto, residents of Borivali (East), Mumbai, told the court that they have deep roots in society and there was no apprehension of their absconding. “We unconditionally undertake to join the investigation and participate in any manner that the investigating agency sees fit and to abide by all terms and conditions,” the petitioners submitted in their plea filed through advocate Arshdeep Singh Cheema.

In another plea for interim bail, Ryan Pinto submitted he had no role in the tragic incident, as he was neither connected with Ryan International School, Gurugram, nor with its managing committee. “The only reason that the name of the petitioner is being dragged into the case is because he happens to be the son of the trustees of the St. Xavier Education Trust, which has started Ryan International School,” his lawyer RS Rai and Abhinav Sood submitted.