NEW DELHI: The police Monday apprehended a 15-year-old boy who they said raped two minor girls in south Delhi’s Amar Colony early this year. The teenager was also facing a probe in four more such cases, they said.
He was apprehended from a juvenile drug de-addiction centre in south-east Delhi where he was under treatment for the last few weeks, said sources.
“His exact age is 15 years and nine months. We are looking at his involvement in the other cases as well,” a police officer told HT on condition of anonymity.
Rising juvenile crime has led to a demand for changes in law. Maximum punishment that an underage delinquent can get is three years and that too in a reform home.
Involvement of a minor in the Delhi gang rape of a trainee physiotherapist and two boys in a Mumbai Shakti Mill case triggered a debate over the blanket immunity that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 gives to underage delinquents even to those involved in rape and murder.
A resident of Amar Colony, the teenager worked at an eatery when he raped a 10-year-old girl a few months ago, investigating officials alleged. He offered her a candy, took her to a nearby godown and raped her, the girl said in her complaint.
He raped a seven-year-old when he was on Diwali leave from the de-addiction centre, the police said. He took the girl to the terrace of an under-construction building near Garhi village in the neighbourhood and raped her, the seven-yearold’s father said. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted bail to a youth accused of raping a minor saying that their physical relationship was consensual.
A bench of Justice Pratibha Rani granted bail to Monu, a resident of Punjab, on a personal bond of R 25,000 with one surety of the like amount.
“No doubt, the prosecutrix is stated to be minor aged about 15 years. In her statement under Section 164 CrPC, she has stated that she had gone with Monu of her own free will. She has further stated that Monu is her boy friend and their family members are now ready for their marriage.
“In the given facts and circumstances of the case, the application is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing personal bond in the sum of R25,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the concerned court,” the bench said.
The court also directed Monu not to leave the country without the permission of the concerned court and not to misuse the liberty granted to him.
According to the petition, on March 5, Monu’s parents performed the engagement ceremony of the accused with the minor at Lajpat Nagar. Later, the girl came at the house of the accused and started living with him without informing anyone in her family.
On July 20, a missing complaint was lodged by the mother of the girl in Lajpat Nagar police station stating that her daughter has left the house without intimating anyone.
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