The controversy over the ages of three of four accused who allegedly gang-raped and murdered Disha, a 27-year-old veterinary doctor, is now a settled matter after the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Sirpurkar Commission concluded that they were minors at the time of their arrest and death in an exchange of fire in the wee hours of December 6, 2019. It also said that the police were well aware of their ages.
“As regards the claim of juvenility of the four deceased suspects, it is claimed by their relatives that they were minors at the time of their arrest and death. As per the available records, it can be conclusively stated that Mohammed Arif was aged 26 on December 06, 2019, and therefore, the question of him being a minor at the relevant point does not arise,” the Commission’s report read.
During their inquiry, the panel went through various documents, including Bonafide certificates and school admission registers of Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Ch. Chennakeshavalu. “In our considered view, there is no reason to disbelieve the evidence of the Head Master and other witnesses who not only identified the relevant entries pertaining to the deceased but also have deposed that they knew the family of the deceased persons,” it read.
