Mercedes hit-and-run: JJB to announce verdict today

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Monday reserved its order against the juvenile driver, accused of mowing down a 32-year-old business executive with a Mercedes car, for Tuesday. The juvenile driver had surrendered to the police last Sunday after which he was sent to a juvenile justice home.

The accused’s lawyer presented the videos of the accident and argued that it was Sharma’s fault when he was trying to cross the road on April 4. Defending the juvenile driver, he further alleged that they have videos where it is clear that the juvenile driver is not at fault, sources said.

Sources also said that the courtroom was emotionally charged, with the juvenile, his father Manoj Aggarwal and his mother broke down in front of the Magisterial Magistrate. The weeping juvenile started pleading to be given a more lenient punishment. He admitted he was guilty and apologised for what happened on the night of the accident.

Sources added that one of the police officials, present in at the JJB, allegedly misbehaved with the journalists, trying to push a few out of the court room, and threatened to break the camera of the photographers and.

Sources further said that as per the order in which the juvenile will be heard tomorrow, the judge may probably grant him bail.

The juvenile, who was allegedly driving his father’s Mercedes car, ran over 32-year-old Sidhartha Sharma in the Civil Lines area on April 4. He was apprehended last Sunday after he turned 18 (on Friday). He has been booked under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sent to a juvenile justice home.

Last week, the Delhi Police had slapped a graver charge — culpable homicide — on the juvenile driver after learning that he was a repeat offender. Before killing Sidhartha, four challans, including rash driving and over-speeding, had been issued against him since last year.

The juvenile’s father, Manoj Aggarwal, was also arrested on charges for abetting the crime. However, he was charged with abetment to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and was later granted bail and released on a bond of Rs 1,00,000.