Delhi High Court refuses anticipatory bail to woman accused of trafficking child

The Delhi High Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to a woman accused of trafficking a child and engaging him in illicit liquor sales.

In an order passed on February 4, Justice Girish Kathpalia expressed concern about hardened criminals using children as a “weapon” to escape penal action, noting exploitation of children in the commission of crimes was increasing day-by-day.

The Judge opined that the woman’s custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth if more children have been trafficked for such purposes.

“Grant of anticipatory bail in a case where a child was exploited in the commission of crimes would send a very wrong signal to the society. Exploitation of children in the commission of crimes is increasing day by day. Children are now often being used as a weapon by hardened criminals to escape penal action,” the Court said.

“I do not find it a fit case to grant anticipatory bail to the applicant,” the Court held.

The woman was alleged to have trafficked a child from her native village and got him employed in the sale of illicit liquor in Delhi.

Police registered an FIR after a close relative of the accused was seen selling illicit liquor along with the boy.

The accused contended that there was nothing to suggest that she brought the boy to Delhi for the sale of illicit liquor. She also argued that there was no material to connect her to the alleged liquor sale.

Delhi Police opposed her anticipatory bail plea. It said the investigation has revealed that the accused was actively involved in the illicit liquor sale racket and even received money in the process.