Ryan School CEO asked to join probe in G’gram

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, September 14

The Gurugram police have served a notice on Ryan International School group CEO Ryan Pinto and asked him to join the investigation in the Pradyuman murder case. Pinto has been asked to come to Gurugram and join the investigation at the earliest as the police plan to file the chargesheet latest by Tuesday.

“He has been asked to come for questioning, as there are a lot of questions on security parameters of the school that need to be answered. The school provided perfect ease and scenario for the crime and a majority of those questioned claimed that the management had been told in the past about the lapses but it never reacted. Pinto’s version will help us throw more light on negligence and those responsible for it,” said an member of the Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the case.

The team has questioned over 30 teaching and non-teaching staff members in the last two days. Gardener Harpal Singh, who is a key witness, was detained for several hours today for questioning.

Harpal is a key eyewitness in the case, as he had seen Ashok outside the toilet and was among the first ones to get to know about the boy’s death.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Sandeep Khirwar has clarified that no more arrests have been made but some are possible with regard to negligence on the part of the school. We are questioning everybody repeatedly to get authentic versions and evidence to file a watertight chargesheet”.

Besides Harpal Singh, the SIT has questioned 17 persons, including security staff, former principal, present acting principal and the bus driver.

It may be noted that while the SIT has returned from Mumbai, the regional head of the school was taken to Mumbai and then to Kerala to gather more information regarding those responsible for negligence with regard to security in the school. Meanwhile, a new security agency took charge of school security today. The decision on cancellation of the licence of the former agency is awaited.

Bail pleas of three Ryan group trustees rejected

Gurugram: The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected the transit anticipatory bail applications of three trustees of the Ryan international Group but granted them interim protection from arrest till tomorrow to enable them to file an appeal.

Justice Ajey Gadkari also directed the applicants' group CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents Augustine Pinto, the founding chairman, and Grace Pinto, the group's managing director, to submit their passports to the Mumbai Police Commissioner.

The Pintos had approached the high court, seeking transit anticipatory bail apprehending arrest in connection with the murder of Class II student Pradyuman in the school's branch at Bhondsi in Gurugram.