Ryan murder: Decision on bus conductor’s bail today

The CBI submitted a forensic report of the blood samples of the victim, class 2 student Pradhyumn Thakur, and Kumar, the prime suspect at that time.

A Gurgaon special court on Monday reserved its order on the bail plea of bus conductor Ashok Kumar—the first suspect in the murder of an eight-year-old boy at Ryan International, Bhondsi —for Tuesday.

A CBI team probing the murder of Pradyuman Thakur. (PTI)

Kumar, 42, was arrested by Gurgaon Police on charges of murder and sexual assault on the victim. After the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency on November 7 apprehended a Class 11 student of the same school for the murder, and ruled out any sexual assault.

The CBI submitted a forensic report of the blood samples of the victim, class 2 student Pradhyumn Thakur, and Kumar, the prime suspect at that time.

The police had collected the samples and sent them for DNA analysis to check if the boy’s blood had spilled on the conductor’s body and clothes and vice versa.

Lawyers present in the court of additional district and sessions judge Rajni Yadav said the report was negative and the samples did not match.

“The blood samples on the victim did not match with that of Kumar. Gurgaon police had taken blood samples of Kumar also, though there was no injury mark on his body. They had sent his samples to ensure the blood on the body of the victim was not of Kumar. His trousers and shirt were sent as there were blood stains on his clothes, which he had washed. The report said the samples did not match. The police had earlier said they had sent the semen sample of Kumar, which they found on the victim’s clothes, but no such sample was sent,” said Verma.

The court had on November 16 sought the report from the CBI as Ashok had moved a bail application after the CBI apprehended the Class 11 student . The court had adjourned hearing on the bail plea till November 20.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Ashok’s counsel Mohit Verma said there was no evidence against his client. “Even CBI officials said there are no pieces of evidence against Kumar, no signs he committed the murder. The FSL and DNA reports are negative. On all these grounds, my client should be granted bail,” said Verma.

Sushil Tekriwal, counsel of the victim’s father Barun Chandra Thakur, argued against the jurisdiction of the Gurgaon court in hearing this case and demanded transfer of the case to the special CBI court, Panchkula.

The CBI prosecutor said the Gurgaon court was specially designated under the Pocso Act and was entitled to hear the case.

Tekriwal then said the CBI ruled out sexual assault and as such the Pocso Act was not relevant in the case.

The court reserved orders on Kumar’s bail application till 3pm, Tuesday.

The CBI, however, did not give a clean chit to Ashok.

“The CBI contended there are sufficient pieces of evidence today to establish who is the murderer but they are still investigating the case and are yet to submit the charge-sheet. Before their report is submitted, they do not want to give a clean chit to anyone, as they fear the witnesses can turn hostile and the evidence can be tampered with so granting bail at this stage can hamper investigations” said Tekriwal.