Patna: Patna High Court has raised concerns over alleged security lapses at police checkpoints in Bihar while hearing the bail pleas of two juveniles accused of smuggling 63kg of ganja in an SUV from Assam to Bihar.A single bench of Justice Arun Kumar Jha allowed criminal revision applications filed by the two juveniles, who were arrested in connection with the alleged smuggling. The court also flagged gaps in the police vigil system at checkpoints and directed Patna SSP to institute a high-level inquiry into the manner in which the investigation was conducted.The order was passed on Sept 15, and it came into the public domain on Sept 19.In his order, Justice Jha observed, “Govt’s claim about foolproof security of common people in Bihar appears to be a hoax for the reason that if two juveniles can smuggle narcotics by driving a vehicle from Assam to Patna—unchecked and unnoticed by state’s police—then they can also bring explosives inside the state.”
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The court also flagged discrepancies in the assessment of the juveniles’ ages and their educational backgrounds. The investigating police had initially treated them as adults, assessing their ages at between 21 and 25 years, but Juvenile Justice Board later found them to be juveniles. The court ordered an inquiry into the investigation conducted by the police personnel involved in the case.On April 8, 2024, sleuths of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Patna unit, arrested the two juveniles after intercepting their SUV in the Didarganj area of Patna. The agency allegedly recovered 63kg of ganja from the vehicle and, after doubting their ages, referred them to Juvenile Justice Board for age determination. The board subsequently found them to be juveniles.Juvenile Justice Board and a special juvenile court in Patna had earlier rejected their bail pleas. The two then approached the high court through criminal revision applications, which were allowed by Justice Jha.
