Mercedes hit-and-run case: Police to move plea to try juvenile accused as adult

The Juvenile Justice Act, which allows children aged 16 to 18 years and in conflict with law to be tried as adults in cases of heinous offences, came into force in January last year.

The juvenile had been fined thrice last year — twice for speeding and once for parking in the wrong spot. The police also chargesheeted the juvenile’s father and the family driver in the case. The boy allegedly ran over Sharma with his father’s Mercedes in north Delhi’s Civil Lines area on April 4.

Meanwhile, the Delhi sessions court upheld the JJB’s order granting bail to the juvenile. It is the JJB’s discretion to decide how long the child has to be kept in the reform home, the court observed.

“It is clear from bare reading of section 12 (of the Act) that no application is required for release of the child and the discretion lies with the board regarding release of the CCL (child in conflict with law). It is for the board to decide as to how long the child should be kept in the observation home. Therefore, contentions of counsel for appellant (victim’s family) that application for bail is necessary condition for releasing the CCL on bail, is without any merit,” the court observed.

The boy was apprehended on charges of negligent and rash driving causing death, while his father was later arrested and charged with culpable homicide. Both were granted bail.

The case, which came to be known as the Mercedes-hit-and-run, was handed over to district investigating unit.