Ryan School murder: Interim relief from arrest to owners extended, officials released on regular bail

Justice Surinder Gupta pronounced the order on the bail pleas of the school trustees including the group’s founding chairman Augustine Pinto, managing director Grace Pinto and their son Ryan Pinto at 4:10 PM. The regular bail of the group’s northern zone head Francis Thomas and other official Jayesh Thomas was also announced at the same time. The bench had reserved the orders before lunch. Also Read | Ryan officials’ custody necessary to ascertain larger conspiracy, says CBI

While opposing the bail plea of the group CEO Ryan Pinto, the CBI had said they are yet to examine and analyse his role in the case regarding the”various lapses and careless attitude” of the school management. “The possibility of him being a member of the conspiracy behind the murder of Master Pradhyuman in the washroom of Ryan International School…and its abetment, destruction of the evidence by him cannot be ruled out,” it said in a written submission before the High Court. Also Read | Ryan responsible for death of student, CBSE panel tells SC

Though the CBI has not revealed much about its own probe into the case, it has widely cited the Haryana Police investigation into the case to oppose the bail pleas. CBI also told the High Court that the case has become a national issue and has attracted the attention of every parent in the country who are deeply anguished with the murder. The investigating agency also told the court that it has learnt that more than 60 students have already applied for ‘Transfer Certificate’ for leaving this school after the murder last month.