Pradyuman murder case: Arrested student sent to three-day CBI remand

A Gurugram Court on Wednesday sent Class 11 student of Ryan International School, arrested in connection with the murder of his schoolmate Pradyuman Thakur, to three-day Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand.

The student was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, Gurugram today, after the CBI sought six-day custody of the student.

Meanwhile, the victim's family has demanded that the juvenile student be tried as an adult and accordingly, be given a harsh punishment.

"The age of the arrested student falls in the category of 16 to 18. Therefore, there is an option with the board to try him as an adult. We demand strict punishment for him, and we'll ensure he is tried as an adult and is hanged till death," Sushil Tekriwal, advocate of Pradyuman's family, said during a press conference here.

The advocate, however, did not rule out involvement of the school management in shielding the student.

"We still believe there is a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched on part of various people, including the student who has been arrested today. CBI inquiry also indicates involvement of Pinto family, and it has not ruled out that possibility," the advocate said, adding, "Wiping out all evidences could not have been possible without "involvement of the top notches."

Tekriwal also said the arrested student has admitted to the crime.

"Looking from the perspective of the student, CBI's reasoning seems like a probable cause behind that student committing the crime," Varun Thakur, father of Pradyuman Thakur concurred, adding: "We request CBI for further investigation and frame charges against everyone involved so that a strong message is conveyed and a criminal thinks twice before committing such a crime."

Earlier in the day, Pradyuman's mother also expressed agreement with the CBI's arrest, reasoning that the investigative agency must have found proof to apprehend the concerned student.

"If CBI has caught hold of that child then they must have had some evidence or proof. We have been saying this from the start that not only us, no one was able to digest the theory of the police," Sushma Thakur told ANI.

Thakur added she had faith in the CBI from the beginning and had therefore been demanding an inquiry by the agency into the case.

CBI, who was handed over the case on September 22, gave a clean chit to the arrested bus conductor in connection with the case, and arrested a student of class 11 of the school today.

Pradyuman was found inside the toilet of the school with his throat slit on September 8.