India, June 26 -- A special court on Thursday cleared the way for trial against three men accused of trafficking seven minor boys from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand and forcing them into bonded labour at eateries and goldsmith workshops in Kurla in 2019.

Special Judge G.G. Bhansali of the Special Court under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act framed charges of human trafficking, wrongful confinement, forced labour, bonded labour, economic exploitation of children and offences under the SC/ST Act. The accused pleaded not guilty and sought trial.

According to the prosecution, the three men, acting with a common intention, trafficked the boys to Mumbai and kept them confined for over 10...