Ryan murder: Pradyuman's parents want death for student accused of killing

CBI on Thursday took the accused in Pradyuman murder case to its headquarters for further questioning.

New Delhi: The Class 11 student of Ryan International School, apprehended by the CBI for allegedly killing a seven-year-old student, has confessed to his crime, the agency has told a juvenile court.

In its note seeking remand of the 16-year-old student from the juvenile court in Gurugram the agency said that his custodial interrogation was needed to ascertain if there were other people involved in the crime.

The agency also wants the teenager to identify the shop from where he had purchased the knife used to slit the throat of Pradhuman, a Class 2 student, on September 8, the agency told the court, PTI reported.

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 into the category of 16 to 18. Therefore, there is an option with the board to try him as an adult. We demand a strict punishment for him, and we`ll ensure he is tried as an adult and is hanged till death," Sushil Tekriwal, the advocate of Pradyuman`s family has said.

The advocate, however, did not rule out the 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. The CBI inquiry also indicates the involvement of the Pinto family, and it has not ruled out that possibility," the advocate said, adding, "Wiping out all evidences could not have been possible without the involvement of the top notches."

On the other hand, Varun Thakur, father of Pradyuman Thakur, said, "We request the 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," as per ANI.

Earlier, Pradyuman`s mother also expressed agreement with the 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.

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

The CBI was handed over the case on September 22.

Meanwhile, Gurugram Police Commissioner Sandeep Khirwar on Thursday defended their investigation by saying that they handed over the case to the CBI at a very initial stage and it was not concluded that time.

The police commissioner said that they were not under pressure to save the culprit and asserted they made an "honest attempt to bring justice to the family". 

(With Agency inputs)