2 convicted for forcing kids to work

A Delhi court has convicted two men of wrongfully confining three kids, compelling them to work in a restaurant without salary and sodomising one of them.

The court held the accused — Raju Gupta and Rajesh Shukla — guilty of offences under the IPC and provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, saying there was evidence against them. Rajesh was also held guilty of trying to sodomise one of the kids.

“I have reached a conclusion that the prosecution’s case stands duly proved. There is overwhelming evidence to show that the rescued boys were below 18 years of age.

“All three boys deposed in sync and gave similar account of cruelty committed upon them by the accused persons. They deposed that they were forcibly made to work at the dhaba without salary. It has been proved that the accused were exercising control over the boys and they treated them with cruelty as defined under Section 23 of Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Child) Act,” additional chief metropolitan magistrate Sudhanshu Malik said.

The court, while convicting Rajesh under Section 377 (sodomy) read with 511 of the IPC, said, “There is evidence that Rajesh attempted to commit carnal intercourse with one of the kids. The unrebutted statement of the child is more than sufficient to establish this fact in issue.” The court is yet to pronounce the quantum of sentence to the convicts.