Bengaluru riots case: juvenile released after he was locked up in prison for six months

A 17-year-old juvenile, arrested in connection with the riots in Bengaluru on August 11, 2020, was released on bail on February 26, after spending nearly six months in the central prison

despite rules stating that those under the age of 18 should be under the charge of a juvenile police unit and not be in a police lockup or in jail. Multiple enquires have now established

that the juvenile was under the age of 18 on August 11, 2020, the day of the riots in DJ Halli and KG Halli in Bengaluru. The juvenile spent six months in the Bengaluru central prison locked

up with hardened criminals until the Karnataka High Court passed orders on February 9 to shift him to an observation home under the Juvenile Justice Board. The High Court's orders came

after a petition was filed in the Karnataka High Court in November 2020.  The juvenile was eventually granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board on February 26. The High Court directed a

jurisdictional court to conduct an enquiry into the age of the arrested person in which his parents and family members were subjected to cross-examination. The public prosecutor Govindan

argued that his age was above 18 based on a radiology report by Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru.  ​Alongside this, in a separate hearing in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) special

court, the juvenile's age was rechecked and a report was sent to the High Court. The High Court eventually passed orders based on the jurisdictional court and NIA special court's

reports stating that his age was below 18 when the incident occurred. READ: BENGALURU RIOTS CASE: ACCUSED’S FAMILY SAYS 17-YR-OLD BEING TRIED AS AN ADULT