‘Adult’ apprehended for Padmaavat protest posed as minor: Bhondsi SHO tells juvenile justice board

SHO Umesh Kumar was served a show-cause notice on February 9 by juvenile justice board directing him to explain the circumstances under which he apprehended a 21-year-old student and produced him as a 16-year-old

The Bhondsi station house officer (SHO), who was served a show-cause notice on February 9 by juvenile justice board (JJB) directing him to explain the circumstances under which he apprehended a 21-year-old student and produced him as a 16-year-old, appeared before the board on Wednesday.

On January 24 , violent protests broke out in Bhondsi over the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmaavat. A roadways bus was set ablaze and a school bus was attacked by miscreants demanding a ban on the film’s release. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

In his reply, SHO Umesh Kumar said the boy, who was apprehended on January 24, had told the police that he was 16 years old. The real age of the man was revealed during investigation in the Bhondsi violence case by legal-cum-probation officer Nisha Saini.

After this, it was suggested that the accused be transferred from the Faridabad observation home to the Bhondsi jail.

The station house officer told the board that the accused should be booked under Section 177 of the Indian Penal Code for furnishing false information.

JJB principal magistrate Davender Singh will pronounce his order on the reply filed by Kumar this Friday. Singh had served a show-cause notice to the SHO and had asked him to appear before the board and explain why action should not be taken against him.

The age discrepancy came to light after Saini went to the village of the accused to prepare a social investigation report and found his exact age after checking his Aadhaar card and class 10 mark sheet. Saini also spoke to the family members and neighbours of the accused. The family members said that the accused was rounded up by the police when he was on his way to pick his sister.

The accused is among the eight juveniles who were apprehended on January 24 in connection with the violent protests that broke out in Bhondsi over the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmaavat. A roadways bus was set ablaze and a school bus was attacked by miscreants demanding a ban on the film’s release.

Multiple charges were framed against the juveniles, including attempt to murder, rioting, snatching, damaging government property and preventing government employees from discharging their duty.

The Bhondsi villagers have maintained that those apprehended were framed by the police and were not involved in the violence. They have planned to meet Union home minister Rajnath Singh to seek the release of the juveniles.

The villagers said that despite an assurance by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on the release of the juveniles, who are currently lodged in the Faridabad observation home, no action has been taken by the police.

Earlier, the villagers had also met officials of the special investigation team(SIT) team and requested them to conduct a fair inquiry into the case.