Delhi Mercedes hit-and-run case: Minor accused can be tried as adult, says Juvenile Justice Board

The Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday said that the minor accused in the Delhi Mercedes hit-and-run case will be tried as an adult in trial court. On April 4, the minor had killed 32-year-old Siddharth Sharma in a hit-and-run case. Four days after the April 4 incident the minor entered the adult age group on his birthday. 

The Presiding Officer of JJB pronounced the order on Saturday on the application filed by Delhi Police seeking transfer of the case to trial court. The Delhi Police had on May 26 chargesheeted the juvenile in the JJB for the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder entails a maximum of 10 years jail.

It is the first of its kind case since the amendment inthe Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,2015, which allowed the Board to transfer cases of heinousoffences by children to Sessions court.

Initially, a case under IPC sections 304 A (causing death by rash or negligent act) was lodged against the boy but later on he was booked for the alleged offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and he was sent to the reform home.

The police had said in its charge sheet that the boy had run over marketing executive Siddharth Sharma with his father’s Mercedes when Sharma was trying to cross a road near Ludlow Castle School in north Delhi on April 4.

The final report was filed for alleged offences under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 279 (driving on a public way so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life) and 337 (causing hurt by an act which endangers human life) against him.

The police also annexed the statements of witnesses including that of the youth’s friends supporting its case. The Board had on April 26 granted bail to the youth who sought the relief to appear in entrance examinations.

The police had said that the car was being driven at a speed of at least 80 km per hour and Sharma was flung several feet into the air by the impact of the crash and landed around 15 metres away from where he stood. 

(With inputs from PTI)