prosecution counsel submitted
that release of the accused coach at this
point of time would adversely affect the
investigation in the case.
Das was produced before the court hours
after he was formally arrested on the charges
of torturing the boy.
The case against him was registered on
the basis of a complaint filed by Budhia
Singh's mother Sukanti Singh earlier in
the day.
The wonder kid, who hit the headlines after
he ran a distance of 65 km from Puri to
Bhubaneswar on May 2 last year under the
guidance of Das, was is living at the State
Judo Association premises till recently.
The coach had even claimed that he had adopted
the boy.
Das, however, has denied all the charges
that have been levelled against him by both
the boy and his mother since Sunday.
Meanwhile, Budhia Singh's mother reportedly
told the Khurda District Child Welfare Committee
that she had taken away her son from Das'
custody as she apprehended danger to the
boy's life.
In her statement before the Committee,
Singh alleged that Das tortured the boy
physically and subjected to inhuman treatment
by pouring hot water on his body and hanging
him with a ceiling fan.
She also alleged that Das did not give
her enough money from the amount that he
kept receiving from various sources as donations
for the boy.
Budhia Singh also levelled identical charges
against his one time mentor during the recording
of his statement by the Committee.
"The statements of the boy and his
mother matched with each other," chairman
of the Child Welfare Committee R. S. Mishra
told reporters.
The Committee is likely to submit the findings
of its inquiry to the State government latest
by Thursday. It will also peruse police
records as well as the report pertaining
to the boy's medical examination before
finalising its report.
Mishra, however, clarified that the Committee's
aim was not to punish anyone in the present
case.
"Our aim is not to punish anybody,
but to protect the child and ensure his
well being," Mishra said.
Meanwhile, Orissa Women and Child Development
Minister Pramila Mallik told presspersons
that the government will take all possible
steps for the boy's education and training.
She also promised to provide help to the
boy in her personal capacity.
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