Ryan murder: CBI permitted to take fingerprints of juvenile accused

The order also stated that if juvenile’s lawyer or parents fail to show up at the observation home within the stipulated time, then the CBI should, as per law, go ahead with the process of taking his fingerprints.

The Juvenile justice board, Gurgaon, on Wednesday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take the fingerprints of the 16-year-old juvenile accused in the Ryan murder case. The board directed the accused to give his fingerprints to the investigating officer, in the presence of his lawyer and parents, at the Faridabad observation home on December 19.

The juvenile accused has been lodged at the observation home in Faridabad since November 11. (HT Photo)

The agency had apprehended the juvenile on November 7 in connection with the murder of eight-year-old Pradhyumn Thakur, a student of Ryan International School, Bhondsi, on September 8. He has been lodged at the observation home since November 11.

The order also stated that if juvenile’s lawyer or parents fail to show up at the observation home within the stipulated time, then the CBI should, as per law, go ahead with the process of taking his fingerprints.

With regard to the bail plea of the juvenile accused, the board directed the CBI to file a reply on Friday.

The board also dismissed the application filed by the juvenile’s counsel seeking permission to tender his original birth certificate and a copy of his date of birth on his class 10 mark sheet.

The board also dismissed a plea seeking to defer arguments for deciding whether the juvenile can be tried as an adult. However, the investigating officer was directed to comply with the provisions of rule 10(5) of the juvenile justice (care and protection of children) Model rules 2016 and not disclose the juvenile’s name in the official proceedings.

For preliminary assessment of the juvenile, the board said that his parents and the counsel will be allowed to read the social investigation report and the psychologist’s report in the board premises once before the hearing on December 15.

The juvenile’s counsel Sandeep Aneja said that he will challenge the board’s decision of permitting the CBI to take his fingerprints.

“The board has not considered the fact that there is no provision under JJ Act to ask for fingerprints. We will file an appeal against the said order,” Aneja said.