The Gurugram district court on Tuesday granted bail to school bus conductor Ashok Kumar — an accused in the killing of seven-year-old Pradhuman Thakur in Ryan International school — on a bond of Rs 50,000.
On September 8, the Gurugram Police had arrested Kumar and had claimed that he had tried to sexually assault the seven-year-old kid in the school washroom but killed him with a knife when he resisted. Kumar's family alleged that the Gurugram Police and the school administration had implicated him in a fake case.
Two months later on November 8, the Central Bureau of Investigation had stunned the county with the arrest of a Class XI student of the same school in connection with the killing of Pradyuman.
The Judge said the CBI has not produced any incriminating evidence against Kumar. And the court could not find any grounds on which the bail could have been opposed.
''The bail was granted under Article 21 of the Constitution. There were a lot of differences between findings of CBI and the Haryana Police. Court also observed that it's a matter of life and death so we allow the bail. We were given benefit of doubt,'' Anil Sharma, the counsel of the bus conductor said.
Though the CBI did not oppose the conductor's bail plea but the agency refused to give a clean chit to Kumar.
The CBI on Monday stated before the court that they do not have any incriminating evidence against Kumar and the forensic and DNA report also confirmed he had no involvement in the murder of Pradyuman.
The child's father Varun Thakur said the family believed in the judiciary. While Varun's lawyer Sushil Tekriwal said, “There was no crucial evidence found against Kumar. Under such circumstances, it depends on the court to take a view. We respect the decision.”
After the decision, Kumar's father Ami Chand said, “We welcome the court's decision. We are really happy that his son finally granted bail.
I told my grandson's that he will be back with their father Kumar. They miss him every day. Also, I would like to thanks my neighbours' who stands with my family at a crucial time.”
Mahesh Raghav, a neighbour of the family, said he will furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 so that the innocent Kumar soon comes out on bail.
Meanwhile, sources said, the CBI detained Kumar's uncle O P Chopra over an audio clip in he was reportedly talking to the accused Class XI student's family. Chopra admitted to having the conversation but denied having any knowledge about the family connection to the case.
Additional District and Sessions (ASJ) Judge Rajni Yadav asked Kumar to cooperate with the investigation agencies as per the requirement and also inform police before leaving the city.