MMS boy granted bail

A juvenile court granted bail to the boy involved in MMS scandal.

Describing the alleged act of the minor boy involved in MMS sex scandal case as a "misadventure" and not "moral depravation", a Juvenile Court on Wednesday granted him bail but asked him to undergo month-long psychiatric counselling with his parents.

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Referring to the boy's Social Investigation Report (SIR), Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board, Santhosh Snehi Mann, said in New Delhi that his alleged act was "a misadventure than an act of a morally depraved mind" and released him on bail.

"The prosecution's apprehension that he may hamper the probe or tamper with the evidence has not been substantiated," the court said. It also directed his parents to execute a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each, with a surety of like amount.

The court asked the boy to surrender his passport and not leave Delhi without prior sanction. His parents were directed to submit weekly counselling report to the court.

Though police claimed that the boy had destroyed evidence in the case, the court said it was "not admissible" as the juvenile's "confession" was made before the police.

The court held that there was no likelihood of his being exposed to moral, physical or psychological danger, if released on bail, as "it appears that his family is in a position to exercise necessary supervision and control over him."

There was also no material on record to suggest that if released on bail, the juvenile will come in the association of any known criminal, the court observed.

The Principal of the boy's school also felt that the incident took place "due to excitement and tendency to do inhibited things," it added.