Delhi High Court Criticizes Police for Wrongfully Accusing Father and Grandmother in Child’s Death
The Delhi High Court has strongly criticized the Delhi Police for wrongfully charging a father and grandmother in the death of a 2-year-old girl. The court ruled that there was no evidence against them and acquitted them of all charges.
Unfair Trial and Wrongful Conviction
A division bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Neena Bansal Krishna observed that the police booked the father and grandmother without any proper evidence. This led them to face a long and unnecessary trial and even serve a sentence for a crime they did not commit.
The court ruled that, in the interest of justice, both the father and grandmother must be fully acquitted under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
Case Background
- The incident took place on February 19, 2014, when a 2-year-old girl died while staying at home with her grandmother.
- Her parents were divorced, and she was in her father’s custody.
- Her maternal grandfather suspected that the child was murdered by her paternal grandparents.
- A post-mortem report found 24 external injuries and concluded that the cause of death was shock due to head injury caused by blunt force.
Court’s Findings
- The trial court acquitted the father and grandmother of murder charges but sentenced them to six months in prison under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.
- The Delhi Police appealed, arguing that they should also be convicted of murder.
- However, the High Court found that the father was not even at home when the child fell and died.
- The court ruled that assuming intentional neglect was misplaced and unjust.
- A doctor’s statement suggested that the scratches on the child’s body could have been due to eczema and dry skin, not abuse.
Police Misconduct and Wrong Evidence
The court noted that a lady constable planted false evidence, including an iron rod and a stick, at the scene. Additionally, there were no bloodstains or injury marks at the crime spot.
The court also highlighted that the grandmother immediately took the injured child to the hospital, proving that she did not neglect the child’s condition.
Final Court Decision
- The Delhi High Court fully acquitted the father and grandmother, stating that the trial court made an error in convicting them under the Juvenile Justice Act.
- The court warned the prosecution against filing careless appeals without proper evidence.
- It emphasized that such cases waste public money, court time, and legal resources, which should be used for more important cases.
This ruling highlights the importance of fair investigations and the need to prevent wrongful prosecutions in sensitive cases.
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