Nitasha Natu,TNN | Sep 28, 2011, 04.07 AM IST

MUMBAI: The two college students arrested for the murder of Malad senior citizen Sarla Patel had cited their upcoming exams as one of the reasons for applying for bail. Patel's grandson Raju and his childhood friend Sachin were lodged at the Dongri observation home since their arrest in connection with the case on September 19. TOI had on Monday reported about the duo's release on a cash bail of Rs 25,000 each. 

In their bail application before the juvenile court, the two teenagers stated that their junior college exams were coming up in mid-October and their studies would get affected if they continued to remain at the observation home. Both boys are in the first year of college. Raju was studying bifocal science in mechanical maintenance at a Kandivli-based college. Incidentally, the Kandivli college is a training ground for students preparing for the IIT-JEE exams. Sachin had enrolled at a commerce college in Juhu. The boys also said in their application that they were not habitual criminals and as they were underage, they were seeking leniency. The next hearing of the case is on Monday, when the boys will have to produce a surety. Sources said Raju suffered from asthma and his condition got aggravated at the observation home. The families of both the boys used to meet them regularly while they were lodged there. 

Sixty-seven-year-old Patel had been found murdered in her second-floor flat at Vishal Complex in Malad (W) on September 16. The crime branch later found that Patel's grandson had committed the murder with his friend, out of desperation for money. (Names of the accused have been changed.)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Killers-sought-bail-to-give-exam/articleshow/10149074.cms