PUNE: Juvenile Justice Board on Wednesday cancelled the bail of the 17-year-old son of a builder involved in Sunday’s Porsche Taycan crash while allowing police’s application for reviewing the board’s earlier order on Sunday to set him free. Police had sought cancellation of the teen’s bail arguing that he should be tried as an adult for drink driving and smashing his car into a two-wheeler at a speed of 160kmph that led to the death of two techies.JJB sent the juvenile to an observation home till June 5.
The order came a day after Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed “shock and surprise” over the board releasing the teen on bail conditions such as writing a 300-word essay on accidents, visiting the RTO to study traffic rules, and assist RTO officers for 15 days. The JJB’s order had led to a countrywide outrage amid charges of favouritism levelled by the opposition.
Panel to monitor Pune teen at observation home, conduct tests
Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil said after the JJB’s order, a committee will now be set up under Section 15 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act to monitor the teenager at the observation home and carry out psychological tests and counselling. Section 15 empowers JJB to conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a child in conflict with law is to be sent for rehabilitation or be tried as an adult. “Based on this committee’s report, a call will be taken on whether the teenager is to be treated as an adult for trial,” Patil said.
Special assistant public prosecutor Monali Kale told TOI that police had primarily argued that the teenager needed proper rehabilitation as he was addicted to alcohol. “We argued there was a threat to his life if he remained outside the observation home. He is young, and considering his future, he can be referred to a psychiatrist for counselling as and when required.”
Lawyer Prashant Patil, who represented the teenager, said JJB pronounced the operative part of its order on Wednesday evening and the full text would be released in due course. “We had opposed police’s plea to send the boy to an observation home. Now that the board has given its order, we will examine it and consult our client on moving an appeal before a higher court against the order.”
The order came a day after Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed “shock and surprise” over the board releasing the teen on bail conditions such as writing a 300-word essay on accidents, visiting the RTO to study traffic rules, and assist RTO officers for 15 days. The JJB’s order had led to a countrywide outrage amid charges of favouritism levelled by the opposition.
Panel to monitor Pune teen at observation home, conduct tests
Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil said after the JJB’s order, a committee will now be set up under Section 15 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act to monitor the teenager at the observation home and carry out psychological tests and counselling. Section 15 empowers JJB to conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether a child in conflict with law is to be sent for rehabilitation or be tried as an adult. “Based on this committee’s report, a call will be taken on whether the teenager is to be treated as an adult for trial,” Patil said.
Special assistant public prosecutor Monali Kale told TOI that police had primarily argued that the teenager needed proper rehabilitation as he was addicted to alcohol. “We argued there was a threat to his life if he remained outside the observation home. He is young, and considering his future, he can be referred to a psychiatrist for counselling as and when required.”
Lawyer Prashant Patil, who represented the teenager, said JJB pronounced the operative part of its order on Wednesday evening and the full text would be released in due course. “We had opposed police’s plea to send the boy to an observation home. Now that the board has given its order, we will examine it and consult our client on moving an appeal before a higher court against the order.”
