Delhi High Court Flags Trend Of Using Children To Commit Crimes Like Drugs & Arms Distribution, Denies Anticipatory Bail To Accused

In doing so, Justice Girish Kathpalia said,

“Over a period of time, it is being observed that criminals use children to commit wide ranging crimes, involving not just liquor and drugs peddling but also arms/ammunitions and even acts of extreme violence, which is leading the society to consider re-fixing the age of juvenility.”

The judge added that child abuse in carrying out such crimes is far more serious than the illicit liquor trafficking.

Petitioner was booked under Section 78 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act which prohibits using a child for vending, peddling, carrying, supplying or smuggling any intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.

He sought bail on the ground that FIR is unsustainable in view of the fact that another FIR pertaining to the alleged recovery of the illicit liquor already stood registered against him.

The Prosecutor clarified that the first FIR was lodged for offence under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act. However, when the child in question (juvenile in conflict with law) was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, the Board directed registration of the current FIR for the reason that the juvenile could not be the accused as well as the victim in the same FIR.

The High Court then observed that it is necessary to unearth if there is any other incident of similar nature involving the Petitioner-accused and any child.

“It also needs to be unearthed if there is a wide network engaged in similar activities using children,” the Court said and dismissed the plea.

Appearance: Mr. Ankit Kumar Vats, Advocate for Petitioner; Ms. Manjeet Arya, APP for State with Inspector Manoj Kumar and SI Vishvendra Singh, PS Mayur Vihar, Delhi.

Case title: Narender v. State

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 965

Case no.: BAIL APPLN. 1394/2025

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