Udaipur, May 18: A significant lapse by the Bhupalpura police in Udaipur has come to light, where a 16-year-old minor was mistakenly arrested as an adult in a case of assault. The minor was held in custody for nearly 24 hours before being presented in the Girwa Tehsildar Court instead of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Court. The revelation occurred during the bail proceedings when the lawyer requested the accused’s Aadhaar card, which confirmed his minor status.
Chaos in Court
Upon presenting the Aadhaar card, lawyers raised objections to the police’s actions. Tehsildar Jabbar Singh Charan expressed shock at the situation and denied the bail application. A heated debate ensued for nearly two hours among lawyers, family members, and police officials in the Collectorate premises. Eventually, the minor was released on bail from the police station and is scheduled to appear before the Juvenile Justice Board on Monday.
Serious Allegations Against Police
Lawyer Virendra Singh Rathore alleged that the police kept the minor in custody for 24 hours, subjected him to physical assault, and even forced him to clean toilets. The minor claimed he had informed the police of his age, but his statements were ignored.
Police Unable to Provide Clear Answers
When questioned about the incident, Station House Officer Adarsh Kumar Parihar stated that the accused and his parents had claimed he was 18 years old. However, when asked if the police had verified the Aadhaar card or any documents, he could not provide a clear response.
Open Disregard for Regulations
According to regulations, minors should not be arrested but detained and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board. This incident raises serious questions about the police’s operational procedures.