The Delhi police on Sunday arrested a shopkeeper in Patel Nagar for allegedly selling a cigarette to a student, and charged him under the Juvenile Justice Act that provides for stringent punishment and hefty fines for such offences.
The action against the shopkeeper was taken after the student’s father and elder brother, who is 16 years old, filmed the sale and handed it to the police as evidence.
“The shopkeeper, identified as Jatinder Bhasin, has been arrested under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act. The strict action has been taken to stop the sale of tobacco products to minors,” said Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police spokesperson.
Gathering footage
On Saturday, the father of the student approached Patel Nagar police station with a complaint against the shopkeeper for selling tobacco products to school students in the locality. He had allegedly caught his 14-year-old son smoking a cigarette at the shop.
He allegedly told the police that he had confronted the owner of Bhasin General Store and got into argument with him. “The shopkeeper refused to stop the sale of tobacco products to school students and other minors despite the prohibition,” said Mr. Pathak.
On the police’s advice, the father and elder brother spoke to the boy and together, they went back to the shop to gather evidence against the seller.
Armed with a mobile camera, they visited the shop. “The boy bought a cigarette and lit it. The elder brother filmed the whole sequence and they returned to the police station and submitted the footage as evidence for further action,” said Mr. Pathak.
Acting on the written compliant and video evidence provided by the minor’s father, a police team conducted a raid at the shop and the shopkeeper was arrested.
A similar case
Under Section 77 of the JJ Act, the offender now faces a jail term of seven years and a fine of ₹1 lakh against IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) under which offenders were booked earlier. In a similar case also reported in the same area, the police arrested a man for allegedly selling drugs to a 14-year-old boy.
“We have instructed all police stations to conduct a drive against shops that sell tobacco products to minors. Shops located near schools will be closely monitored,” said Mr Pathak.
