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  Ryan International School: Delhi govt for CBI probe on boy’s death

Ryan International School: Delhi govt for CBI probe on boy’s death

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Feb 8, 2016, 4:53 am IST
Updated : Feb 8, 2016, 4:53 am IST

The Kejriwal government on Sunday said that it will recommend a CBI probe into the death of a Ryan International School student after his father’s allegations that the six-year-old was sexually assaul

The Kejriwal government on Sunday said that it will recommend a CBI probe into the death of a Ryan International School student after his father’s allegations that the six-year-old was sexually assaulted and then killed. A magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi government into the case said that “deliberate” inaction by the school authorities amounted to “gross criminal negligence” that led to the death of the child.

“We will definitely recommend a CBI probe into death of Devansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe. Devansh’s parents (have) levelled serious allegations,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Sunday. Mr Sisodia, who also looks after the education portfolio, had said on Saturday that the magisterial probe into Devansh’s death indicated a “heinous crime” and that the investigation had so far “ignored” the observations of the child’s parents. He also claimed that no police official has met Devansh’s parents so far.

“Once chief minister Arvind Kejriwal comes back from Bengaluru, expected to be today (Sunday), the CBI probe will be recommended after proper consultations,” a senior government official said.

Devansh’s father Ramheet Meena had on Saturday alleged that injury marks were seen on his son’s body, including private parts.

Mr Meena said he saw cotton swabs on the child’s private parts and alleged that the principal of the school has threatened the family to keep quiet over the issue. He reiterated his demand for a CBI probe into the case. “I saw the body. There were some injury marks and cotton on his private parts. The principal has been threatening me since the beginning saying that keeping quiet will be good for me,” he said, demanding cancellation of the school’s licence.

However, a senior police officer, handling the probe, had ruled out sexual assault on the basis of the initial post-mortem report and investigation so far. Devansh was found dead on January 30 in the reservoir under the amphitheatre of the school located in southwest Delhi. The initial post-mortem report suggested that the boy had died due to drowning and no external injuries were found, the police had said.

Devansh’s father met Delhi’s women and child welfare minister Sandeep Kumar on Sunday and sought his help. “I expressed concern that the police was not properly investigating the case and asked the minister for his help for a CBI probe into the death of Devansh,” said Mr Meena. “So far, the police has only been talking to the school staff. They have not recorded our statements,” he said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the Delhi police investigation, Mr Meena said that he wanted an inquiry into death of his son either by the CBI or any other independent agency. “I am demanding an inquiry by the CBI or an independent agency because there are chances that the evidence in the case may be tampered with. A memorandum was submitted to the minister and he assured me that he will meet the chief minister so that justice could be delivered to the child,” he added.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi