Pradyuman murder accused denied bail

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, January 8

The sessions court rejected the bail application of the teen accused in the Pradyuman Thakur murder case here today.

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Jasbir Singh Kundu reserved its order after conclusion of arguments two days back.

The sessions court denied relief to the teen accused, who was now being tried as an adult.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 21,000 on the defence counsel for filing unnecessary applications and wasting time of the court, said a prosecution lawyer. The next hearing in the case would be held on January 22.

The defence counsel had sought bail claiming that the charge sheet in the matter was not filed within one month, as mandated in the Juvenile Justice Act, and the counsel was not even provided investigation documents.

The prosecution countered the argument, saying that the mandatory period for filing a charge sheet was 90 days under the CrPC as the accused had been declared an adult by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).

The court was hearing an appeal filed by the accused against an order of the Juvenile Justice Board denying him bail.

The JJB, on December 20 last, held that the teenager would be tried as an adult and directed that he be produced in the sessions court.

The denial of bail came as huge setback to the accused’s family. His father claimed that the CBI had no concrete proof against his son and had no charge sheet. His son was being made a scapegoat to escape media glare over investigation failure, he alleged.

The accused, also a student of Ryan International School, was arrested by the CBI for slitting the throat of his seven-year-old schoolmate in the toilet to allegedly create panic in the school and get exams and parent-teacher meeting postponed.