Ryan case: Govt to recommend CBI probe, father seeks Irani’s help

The Delhi government on Sunday said it will recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the death of a Ryan International School student in view of “shortcomings” in the ongoing probe even as the distraught parents of the 6-year-old sought Union Human Resource Development minister Smriti Irani’s intervention.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the government will soon recommend a CBI probe into Devansh Kakora’s death, a demand made by the boy’s father who had on Saturday alleged that the child was sexually assaulted before death and that there were injury marks on his private parts.

“We have decided to recommend a CBI probe into death of Devansh. We can see shortcomings in the ongoing probe. Devansh’s parents have levelled serious allegations,” Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said.

The child’s father wrote a letter to Irani, seeking her intervention in ensuring handing over of the case to the central agency. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

In the letter to Irani, the parents alleged that there was a “conspiracy” behind the incident and demanded action against the school management

“Devansh’s death was too suspicious and the reasons have still not been cleared by the school authorities. I am sure about some conspiracy against my child. Being a father, I just request you to please try to hand over this case to the CBI so that proper investigation can be made in this case, otherwise I know this case would suppressed by the school administration,” Devansh's father Ramhit Meena stated in the letter.

Meena on Sunday met Delhi Women and Child Welfare minister Sandeep Kumar and expressed concern “that the police were not properly investigating” the death of of his son, whose body was found in the reservoir under the amphitheatre of the South Delhi school on January 30. “So far, the police have only been talking to the school staff and they have not recorded our statements,” he said.

A magisterial probe ordered by the Delhi government into the case said that “deliberate” inaction by the school authorities amounted to “gross criminal negligence” which led to the death of the child. 

“Hoping for justice for my child through your cooperation, I also demand action against the school management,” Meena said in the letter.

Meena had on Saturday alleged that injury marks were seen on his child’s body, including on private parts, and that he saw cotton swabs on his private parts. He also alleged that the school principal had threatened the family to keep quiet over the issue. 

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.

The school’s principal Sandhya Sabu and four other staff were arrested in the case. Hoiwever, all of them are out on bail now.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the police investigation in the case, Meena said he wanted an “independent” enquiry. “I am demanding an enquiry by the CBI or an independent agency because there are chances that the evidences in the case may be tempered,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said CBI inquiry should be ordered into the case heeding to the demands of the parents, while JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi said he supported the Delhi government’s decision to recommend handing over the investigation to the central agency. 

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said the police should probe all possible angles in the case.