बॉम्बे हाई कोर्ट ने घातकोपर में घातक स्टंट ड्राइविंग वाले किशोर की जमानत रद्द को स्थायी किया

Bombay High Court upholds bail cancellation for minor in fatal stunt-driving crash

The Bombay High Court upheld the cancellation of bail for the minor accused in the fatal Ghatkopar crash. The court said his stunt-driving, lack of parental control and bail breach warranted reformative custody.

The Bombay High Court has upheld the cancellation of bail granted to a minor accused in a fatal road crash in Mumbai's Ghatkopar, observing that his repeated stunt-driving, lack of parental supervision and violation of bail conditions justified his placement in a reformative institution.

Justice Shivkumar Dige dismissed a criminal revision application filed by the minor, challenging a Sessions Court order that had revoked the bail earlier granted by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB).

During the hearing, advocates Atharva Dandekar, Ruben Mascarenhas and Tejas Gupta, appearing for the surviving victim, argued that the accused routinely performed dangerous stunts on two-wheelers and cars on public roads and uploaded videos of the acts on Instagram.

According to the submissions, the videos showed the teenager performing wheelies with multiple pillion riders without helmets and driving a car while a friend lay across the bonnet and windshield, reflecting a complete disregard for public safety.

The court noted that the minor had been driving vehicles without a valid licence before attaining the age of 18 and that his parents, despite being aware of his conduct, failed to restrain him.

Justice Dige held that releasing the minor would expose him to moral, physical and psychological danger, attracting the exceptions to bail under Section 12(1) of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The court also found that after obtaining bail from the JJB, the minor failed to reside at the address in Koparkhairane specified as a condition of his release and could not be traced during police verification.

"It shows that he has scant respect for the orders passed by lawful authority. Now, the applicant is a major. When he was a child, there was no parental control over him. The applicant would be exposed to moral, physical and psychological danger due to lack of parental control. He may again indulge in stunt act with his friends, causing danger to others. It will defeat ends of justice," Justice Dige said.

The court further noted allegations that videos showing the teenager's stunt-driving were deleted after the accident in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The case relates to a February 5 crash in Ghatkopar that claimed the life of a family's sole earning member and left another victim permanently paralysed.

Noting that the accused was 17 years and eight months old at the time of the incident, the High Court said his immediate release would defeat the ends of justice and erode public confidence in the justice system. The court held that a period in a reformative institution was necessary to make him understand the consequences and gravity of his actions.

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