Govt using CBI to divert public attention on DeMo anniversary: Congress on Pradyuman murder revelations

NEW DELHI: Raising questions on timings of 'new revelations' made by the CBI in the Pradyuman murder case, Congress on Wednesday said the Centre is using the investigation agency to divert public attention on note-ban anniversary. Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala said the government is using the CBI to divert public attention on note-ban anniversary by putting out a story of the sensational twist about murder of Gurgaon school boy Pradyuman a few months ago. "Intimidation of the fourth estate and misuse of Compromise Bureau of Investigation as a BJP puppet will never hide the truth," he said, referring to the case. Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley should admit mistake, apologise to nation: Congress On demonetisation anniversary, the Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to apologise to the country for the decision which, it alleged, "destroyed" the economy and caused immense pain to the people. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said it is strange that while the entire country is mourning and observing "black day", the government is celebrating, and wondered what had it achieved with the demonetisation decision. Dubbing demonetisation as "the biggest scam" in the country, he alleged that the BJP and its leaders have benefited through it and demanded a thorough probe into their dealings. "It is unfortunate that the looters are celebrating and people are mourning," he told reporters. He drew parallels between the demonetisation step and Mughal emperor Mohammed bin Tughlaq's decision to replace metal currency that brought misery to the people. "The dictator of the current times took a similar decision which ruined the country's economy," he alleged. What CBI said in Pradyuman murder case In a sensational twist in the murder case, the CBI on Wednesday apprehended a class 11 student of Ryan International School in Gurugram for the murder of the seven-year-old student. According to the CBI the accused wanted the school to declare a holiday in order to defer a scheduled parent-teacher meeting and an examination. According to the agency, the Class 11 student, believed to be weak in studies, allegedly slit Pradyuman's throat to get the school to declare a holiday in order to defer a scheduled parent-teacher meeting (PTM) and an examination. The CBI was able to piece together elements of the crime by analysing the CCTV footage, scientific and forensic examination, analysis of the crime scene and by questioning students, teachers and staff of the school, an official said. What Pradyuman's family said The family and lawyers of the seven-year-old Ryan school student who was murdered inside the school premises in September, today demanded that a Class XI boy apprehended in the case by the CBI be tried as an adult and be given strict punishment. They also expressed suspicion about the involvement of school authorities in "destruction of evidence" and sought that the top management officials of the school be questioned by the CBI in the matter. (With inputs from PTI)