SC Notice to Ryan Owners on Bail Plea, Seeks Report on Murder

Ryan Pinto and his parents had approached the HC earlier seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the murder.

Augustine F Pinto and ‘Madam’ Grace Pinto, founder of Ryan international school.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Supreme Court on Friday, 13 October, sought the response of the Ryan group owners on a plea to cancel their anticipatory bail granted by Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also sought the response of the CBI which is investigating the death of Class 2 student Pradyumn Thakur who was found dead with his throat slit in a school washroom on 8 September.

The bench issued notice to the Ryan Group CEO Ryan Pinto, and his parents, founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, and posted the matter for further hearing on 30 October.

The Haryana and Punjab High Court had on 7 October granted interim bail to the Pintos, the trustees of Ryan International Schools, till 5 December, despite a challenge from the victim’s father in the SC.

In a press release, Prayumn’s father said,

To say that the manner in which the throat was stilt and surgically the veins were cut of a 7-year-old boy so that he could not even scream is absolutely pre-planned and meticulously designed, and in this case, any interim bail should not be granted at this stage of investigation by the High Court.

Ryan Group CEO Ryan Pinto, his parents, and two others accused in the case have been granted anticipatory bail under certain conditions. They are not allowed to leave the country and are also required to join the investigation, if required, reported the victim’s lawyer.

Thakur had earlier assailed the Punjab and Haryana High Court order staying the arrest of Ryan Pinto and his parents.

Also Read: Ryan Murder Case: Pinto Family’s Arrest Stayed by High Court

The plea had made the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is currently probing the case, the accused persons, and the Haryana government a party in the case.

It alleged that the 28 September order of the High Court granting interim bail was passed without hearing either the CBI or the complainant's father.

Ryan Pinto and his parents had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the murder case.

School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested in connection with the crime the same day.

On 25 September, the High Court had impleaded CBI as a respondent in the petition seeking bail for the three Ryan group trustees.

The Haryana government had recommended a CBI probe in the matter following massive outrage. The premier agency took over the probe on 22 September.

The Pintos, who are based in Mumbai, had earlier approached the Bombay High Court as they apprehended arrest in the case after the school was accused of negligence in the death of the child.

The High Court had earlier rejected the transit anticipatory bail applications of the three trustees but had granted them interim protection from arrest for a day to enable them to file an appeal.

Also Read: Pradyumn Murder Was Shocking, But There’s Hope: Ryan Parent Writes

(With inputs from PTI)

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