Nirbhaya case: MHA mulls bond for juvenile offender

Union Home Ministry is contemplating to ask the juvenile convict in Delhi gang-rape case to sign a legal bond affirming good behaviour after his release.

New Delhi: Amid apprehension raised by Nirbhaya parents, the Union Home Ministry is contemplating to ask the juvenile convict to sign a legal bond affirming good behaviour after his release.

The bond as per Section 107 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will act as security for keeping the peace after his release from a juvenile remand home.

"The Ministry is mulling on the option in this regard as it is legally not possible to keep him behind the bars," a senior official said.

As per the CrPC provision, when an Executive Magistrate receives information that any person is likely to commit a breach of the peace or disturb public tranquillity and is of opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding, he may, require such person to show cause why he should not be ordered to execute a bond, with or without sureties, for keeping the peace for a period not exceeding one year.

The parents of the December 2012 gang rape victim, who has been known as 'Nirbhaya'(fearless), have expressed their apprehension against the release of the juvenile, who was reportedly the "most brutal" of all the six offenders.

The juvenile, who was under 18 when he was arrested for rape and murder of Nirbhaya, was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act and ordered to keep in a remand home for three years. He is set to be released this month.

The convict was allegedly radicalised by a fellow inmate, raising concern in the security establishment.

The gangrape incident had caused wide public outrage across the country.

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had recently stressed the need to keep a "close watch" on him following his impending release.

The victim, who was brutally assaulted by six persons, including the juvenile, in a moving bus in South Delhi, had succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital after battling for life for 13 days.