NI Bureau
The recent accident in Kalyani Nagar has ignited widespread outrage, with residents and local politicians demanding strict action against those involved, including a prominent Pune builder, his son, and several local pubs accused of selling alcohol to minors. On Monday, Congress workers, led by Pune Lok Sabha candidate Ravindra Dhangekar, protested at the Yerawada Police Station. The protest followed an incident where a Porsche, driven by a 17-year-old, collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two techies in Pune.
According to Pune Times Mirror, the minor accused received VIP treatment, which has further fueled the controversy. After a medical examination at Sassoon Hospital, the driver and his friends were taken to the Yerawada police station, where senior officers allowed the family to order pizza and burgers for the children. The special treatment given to Vishal Agarwal’s son has raised public concerns. Additionally, the young accused was granted bail just 15 hours after the incident, with seemingly lenient conditions imposed by the court. The conditions includes assisting traffic police for 15 days at intersections, painting of traffic boards, writing a 300-word essay on accidents, and counseling by a psychiatrist.
The court’s lenient decision has drawn criticism and intensified demands for justice and accountability in handling such cases.
Ravindra Dhangekar, speaking to Pune Mirror, alleged that minor clauses were applied to facilitate an easy bail process for the accused. He also claimed that the accused was treated with undue leniency, including being served biryani and pizza while in custody. Despite the severity of the crime, the accused was swiftly produced in a vacation court, leading to immediate bail, which has raised doubts and questions.
Police Arrest Accused Father
Police have detained the father of the 17-year-old involved in the accident that killed two people in Pune. Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar confirmed that the teenager’s father, a real estate developer, was detained from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and brought to Pune for arrest.
A case has been registered against the father under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, and against the owners and staff of the bar for serving alcohol to a minor. Section 75 deals with the willful neglect of a child, and section 77 with supplying a child with intoxicating liquor or drugs.
The FIR alleges that the father allowed his son to drive without a valid license, endangering his life, and permitted him to party, knowing he consumes alcohol. The victims, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, both 24-year-old IT professionals from Madhya Pradesh, succumbed to their injuries.
The teenager was presented before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail hours later. The board also directed him to study traffic rules and submit a presentation within 15 days, as well as write a 300-word essay on road accidents and their solutions.
The police have registered a case against the teenager under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. They plan to seek permission from a higher court to try the teenager as an adult.
Prateeksha Thakur
