Boy Caught Riding, Father Booked Under JJ Act | News from India

BENGALURU: A businessman in his 40s was recently booked under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act for allowing his minor son to ride his scooter and perform stunts on the road. The 17-year-old boy was caught performing wheelies near the Marathahalli Bridge on June 1. After confirming that the boy was a minor, HAL traffic police registered a case against his father, a businessman and resident of Ramagondanahalli, on June 15.

A senior police officer said a case under Section 75 of the JJ Act (punishment for cruelty to children) had been registered. “We will notify the father and record his statement and a charge sheet will be filed against him. The two-wheeler has been seized by the traffic police.”

According to the Bangalore city traffic police, more than 150 cases have been booked for driving so far this year. While 219 cases were registered in 2019, 2022 saw 283 cases registered for such offenses. Venkatesh J, assistant sub-inspector of HAL traffic police station, said in his complaint that while he was on duty near Marathahalli bridge around 1.30 p.m. on June 1, he saw a boy performing wheelies on a scooter on Varthur Main Road, while he was heading towards Marathahalli Bridge from Kundalahalli Bridge around 1:30 p.m.

‘Boy’s stunts sparked fear among motorists’
The boy was not wearing a helmet and his rash stunts spread fear among other motorists, the sub-inspector said. After discovering that the boy was a minor, the HAL traffic police registered cases under several sections of the IPC and the Indian Motor Vehicles Act against the boy and his father, the owner of the vehicle, including including article 180 (for giving a vehicle to a minor to drive). ).

MN Anucheth, joint commissioner of police (traffic), told TOI, “Parents should be responsible while giving two-wheelers to their children. Following the Pune Porsche incident, we took the initiative to initiate proceedings against the parents under the JJ. Act.” The officer added: “In 20% of wheeling cases, the offenders are minors. That’s a pretty high percentage. Wheeling has also led to many injuries and deaths in some cases.” According to sub-inspector Venkatesh, even though he knew that his son was a minor, the accused gave him a scooter.