MEERUT, June 10 -- In connection with the Kapsad abduction and murder case, the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board on Wednesday ruled that accused Paras Som was an adult at the time of the offence, paving the way for his trial in a regular court. Based on medical evidence, the board held that he was 18 years, seven months and 26 days old on January 8, when the alleged crime took place. The order had been reserved three days earlier after extensive arguments from both sides.

With the ruling, Paras Som will be shifted from a juvenile observation home to the district jail and the case will now proceed before the Special SC/ST Court.

The case dates back to January 8, when Ruby, a Dalit woman from Kapsad village under Saradhana police station limit...