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The police have decided not to investigate further the alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old boy by Dombivli-based education baron Shivajirao Jondhale. The police have decided not to
investigate further the alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old boy by Dombivli-based education baron Shivajirao Jondhale. The decision was taken after the boy’s statement, giving a clean chit
to Jondhale. The move has raised questions about the police not following the basic rules in investigating a child abuse case. “According to the guidelines of the law on juvenile justice
protection and care, even after the minor’s statement, the police have to mandatorily produce the child before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB),” said criminal lawyer Wahab Khan. “Besides,
the child should undergo a medical check-up and be psychologically examined and the investigation has to be completed before the case’s closure. It cannot be done within 24 hours of the
statement being recorded like this case,” he added. According to the juvenile justice protection and care law, the child has to be immediately withdrawn from the custody of those involved in
the case and handed over to a trusted custody to avoid manipulations in the case. In this case, the boy went to the police station with Jondhale and his supporters and is still with them.
“The boy must be taken to the medical officers and counsellors of the JJB,” added Khan. Rohidas Chikate, assistant police inspector of Otur police station, told DNA that they have recorded
the child’s statement. “We have seen the CD but the child has told us that he was not abused by anyone in farmhouse at Malshej Ghat,” said Chikate. He added that as per the child’s statement
there was not sexual abuse. “We are not going to add any child abuse sections in the case. The boy has no complaints against Jondhale or the four others.”