Court to frame charges against juvenile suspect on February 28

NEWDELHI: The Gurgaon special children’s court has set February 28 as the date for framing charges against a 16-year-old juvenile who allegedly murdered a Class 2 student at a private school in Gurgaon last September.

The boy’s father was given a copy of the charge sheet, comprising 1,706 pages in 29 volumes, on Monday. The court is yet to take cognizance of the charges filed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials on technical grounds.

The juvenile was remanded in an observation home at Faridabad on November 11, four days after the CBI arrested him for allegedly murdering the seven-year-old in the school washroom. The court has extended his custody until February 28.

The father objected to the copy of the charge sheet provided to him on the grounds that it was incomplete. “The CBI has provided me with copies of all the documents, with the exception of witness statements and CCTV footage. They cannot frame my son merely on the basis of statements by school students and CCTV footage of my son moving towards the school washroom,” he said.

The court recorded his objection, and provided the authorities concerned with additional time to ascertain if anything was yet to be filed.

It then posted the next hearing for 2 pm on February 17, when arguments on four pending petitions filed by the accused’s counsel will be taken up.

These include the preliminary assessment report and CBI remand for the juvenile.