Two years after Binay Kumar Mahto was found battered to death on the campus of Sapphire International School, Hardag, the trial continues with four accused. But, did a teen brother's vengeance over a campus crush brutally end a life?
THE CRIME
Binay Kumar Mahto, 12, Class VII student of Sapphire residential school, found battered in a pool of blood near the entrance of teachers' quarters, 800 metres away from his hostel, around 1.30am on February 5, 2016. He was discovered by art teacher Durbanand Jana, given first-aid by school nurse, taken to Gurunanak Hospital & then to RIMS, where a doctor declared him brought dead. Father Manbahal reached RIMS at 3am
THE THEORY
Police said Sapphire Hindi teacher Nazia Hussain's 15-year-old son, who stayed on the same campus, killed Binay for liking his sister, and with help from mother and sister, threw him off the first floor. Nazia's husband Arif Ali Ansari, teacher at Taurian World School, asked wife and kids to wipe off bloodstains, stay quiet
THE ACCUSED
Teacher couple Nazia Hussain and Arif Ali Ansari, and their minor daughter, charged with criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence; minor son, charged with murder, criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence
OVER TO COPS
Fast and furious: Four teachers Durbanand Jana (art), Vishwanath Poddar (maths), Atanu Nag (hostel warden) & Dinesh Dilip Roy Bole (dance) interrogated on February 5, police obtain permission for polygraph test of the four from court on February 9, police hold news meet to accuse Nazia, Arif and their two children. SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi says the son killed Binay for having a crush on his sister
CONFESSION
Son: "Objected to Binay speaking to my sister. Lured him to teachers' quarters (where mother Nazia, son and daughter stayed) with promise of a soya chilli dish, punched Binay in the stomach, threw him against the wall. Dragged his body with help of mother and sister and threw him off the first-floor railing"
Arif: Came to know from son over phone. Advised to wash off bloodstains and stay quiet
PIECES DON'T FIT
• Binay managed to leave hostel and reach teachers' quarters, 800m away, undetected by security guard, sniffer dog at night. CCTV camera footage inadequate
• Binay's father Manbahal Mahto is called to RIMS by school management saying Binay, suffering from fever, suffered a fall with minor injury; school doesn't file the first FIR, Binay's father does
• Incriminating evidence found at art teacher Durbanand Jana's quarters and computer ignored
• Maths teacher Vishwanath initially tells police Binay was depressed
• On February 9, heat was on four teachers; a day later, cops announce family as accused
WHAT POLICE SAY TODAY
Our job was collecting evidence . Conviction depends on lawyers and court
Rajeev Ranjan , investigating officer from February 5 to 10, 2016
Confessions and evidence support our probe
Harish Chandra Singh , investigative officer who took over from February 11, 2016
LEGAL JOURNEY
Trial at civil court and juvenile justice board started in April 2016. So far, 19 prosecution witnesses examined in civil courts, 15 in board. Arif, Nazia and children out on bail
BIG FAILURE
Gurgaon's Ryan International School murder in 2017 was handed over to CB> immediately but the Sapphire murder did not meet the same fate
