Bail Granted To Father Of Accused Teen in Pune Porsche Crash Case

A Pune court granted bail to Vishal Agarwal, father of a teen accused of running over two engineers with his Porsche. The incident occurred in Kalyani Nagar on May 19. Agarwal was arrested on May 21 and received bail in one case related to the Juvenile Justice Act, according to PTI.

The Brahma Group owner faced charges under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Juvenile Act for not fulfilling his duties as a guardian. The Porsche, bought for his son in March, was unregistered due to unpaid road tax of ₹44 lakh. The minor did not possess a driving licence.

Details of the Incident

Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, software engineers from Madhya Pradesh, died after the Porsche, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old in a drunken state, hit them early on May 19. The teenager was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on the same day but was later remanded to an observation home amid public outcry.

On June 14, the Pune court sent Vishal Agarwal, Shivani Agarwal, and another accused to 14-day judicial custody. They are being investigated for allegedly switching blood samples to show the teenager was not intoxicated during the accident.

Allegations of Misconduct

It is alleged that blood samples from Shivani Agarwal were used instead of her son's. Ashpak Makandar is accused of facilitating this switch between the Agarwals and doctors at Sassoon General Hospital. This hospital is where blood samples are collected in such cases.

The JJB had initially ordered that the teenager be kept under his parents' and grandfather's supervision. He was also instructed to write a 300-word essay on road safety. However, following police appeals, the board amended its order and placed him in an observation home.

The police action followed findings that the Porsche car had not been registered due to unpaid road tax. The minor son did not have a driving license at the time of the accident.

This case has sparked significant public interest and debate about juvenile justice and road safety laws in India. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover all details surrounding this tragic event.