MURDER OF PRADYUMAN thAKUR:Did not interfere in police probe: Haryana minister

GURUGRAM: Accused of pressurising the parents of deceased Pradyuman Thakur, Haryana Cabinet minister Rao Narbir Singh on Wednesday denied any wrongdoing.

He, however, said that he did meet the parents and told them about the pitfalls of handing over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Meanwhile, Pradyuman' father Barun on Wednesday reiterated that the minister dissuaded him from asking the probe to be undertaken by CBI.

"I met the parents of Pradyuman to offer my sympathies. They told me they were not satisfied with the police probe and want the case to be handed over to CBI. To this, I replied that CBI already has large number of case to deal with. I told them that police must be allowed to investigate the case for four-five days and then we can put in a word," said Singh

The Haryana PWD minister added that he accompanied the Chief Minister at the second meeting with the bereaved parents and sought the investigation to be done by the top investigating agency.

"After five days, when the parents were still not satisfied with the probe, I accompanied the Chief Minister and vouched for CBI probe. The rumours of my being involved during the time of investigation are baseless," he added.

The startling revelation made by the top investigating agency have resulted many to question the Gurugram police's integrity and credibility.

Several senior district police officers transferred

GURUGRAM: All senior officials of district police who have been involved in one way or another in handing various events related to the Pradyuman Thakur murder case have been transferred by the Haryana government.

The latest official to be transferred is Simardeep Singh, who will earlier was DCP (Traffic) and will now be SP Sirsa.

On September 8, the day Pradyuman was murdered in the washroom of Ryan International School in Bhondsi, Singh was the acting commissioner of Gurugram Police.

It was under Singh's watch that the district police arrested 42-year-old Ashok Kumar for the murder.

Other officers, who had been transferred earlier, include Inspector Narender Khatana, station house officer, Bhondsi, and Inspector Tanya Singh, ACP, Pataudi.

It has been speculated that the Haryana government was not happy with the officer(s), who had beaten up journalists and parents who were protesting outside the school on September 11.

Questions have been raised on the credibility and integrity of the district police, after the Central Bureau of Investigation completely debunked Kumar's involvement and instead charged a 16-year-old for the murder of seven-year-old Pradyuman.

Moreover, Kumar's legal counsel had already announced that a defamation suit will be filed against the district police.