Delhi: The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), in an order, has noted that the 17-year-old boy who was allegedly driving the SUV that rammed into a motorcycle and cab on Delhi’s Dwarka on February 3, killing 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra, “does not understand the preciousness of life.”
In the order, accessed by Hindustan Times, the JJB has said that when the teenager appeared before it on February 4, he “appeared to show no remorse” and seemed unaware of the value of a human life.
“Upon enquiry from the CCL [child in conflict with law], it appears that he does not understand the preciousness of life of a person and is not remorseful towards his act,” the order dated February 14 stated, as reported by the newspaper.
The incident has led to nationwide outrage with Sahil’s mother running from pillar to post to get justice for her son.
The boy was then sent for “rehabilitation and appropriate counselling” and for his “safety and security” to an observation home, the Board noted in its order.
Initial reports suggest that the boy, and his sister, who was on the passenger seat next to him, were busy making reels while driving when the incident occurred around 11.50 am near the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in Dwarka’s Sector 11.
Such was the impact that Sahil’s motorcycle – a Yamaha R15 – broke into three pieces. After the incident, the teenagers claimed that the biker was spending, but that does not explain how they collided with it.
While the teenager appeared without any remorse during his JJB hearing, his father has expressed deep shock and apologised to Sahil’s mother. He is “ready to abide by the decision of the judiciary”, the boy’s father said.
He has also been charged under the Motor Vehicles Act by the Delhi Police for allowing a person without a valid driver’s licence to drive his vehicle.
“I was in Gorakhpur for work when I got a call on February 3 informing that my son had met with an accident. I returned to Delhi immediately and received the details from the police,” he said, as reported by PTI.
“I sincerely apologise to the mother who lost her son. I am ready to seek her forgiveness and will follow whatever decision the law and judiciary make,” he said, adding that he would not “dare” to face her as he can not undo her loss.
The 17-year-old accused is a student of Class 10 and is appearing for the ongoing Board exams, for which he got an interim bail by the JJB on February 10. However, he has been asked to surrender right after the exams are over on March 9.
“The need for immediate academic preparation and the continuity of studies constitutes a relevant consideration under the rehabilitative and reformative object of the JJ Act,” the board said while granting the bail while also putting several restrictions in place and making it clear that the bail is interim in nature.
The teenager will remain in his father’s custody during the bail period, according to the order, upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety of the like amount. The bond is valid till March 9.
