Pune's Commissioner of Police, Amitesh Kumar, stated in an interview with India Today TV that they have sought permission from a higher court to try a 17-year-old boy as an adult. The teenager, the son of a real estate developer, was involved in a fatal accident where his sports car, a Porsche, knocked down and killed two people in Pune.
The incident has caused public outrage, particularly because the teen, who was driving under the influence of alcohol, was granted bail by a local court within 14 hours. The court deemed the crime not "serious" enough to deny bail and released him on conditions, including writing a 300-word essay on the "effect of road accidents and their solution."
Commissioner Kumar explained that the accused was initially booked under IPC Section 304. The police moved to have him tried as an adult under the Juvenile Justice Act, arguing that the nature of the crime was heinous. However, the initial court rejected their application. The police have since appealed this decision in a higher court.
The fatal accident occurred in the early morning of May 19 in the Kalyani Nagar area. The teenager, driving at high speed, crashed into a two-wheeler, killing the two riders, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24 and working in the IT sector. Ashwini Koshta died on the spot, while Aneesh Awadhiya succumbed to injuries later at a hospital.
The police noted that the Porsche, registered under the boy's father's name, did not have a number plate at the time of the accident. CCTV footage from the incident showed bystanders pulling the teen and his friends from the car and assaulting them. Additional footage revealed that the group had been drinking at a bar before the crash.
Despite the severity of the incident, the local Juvenile Justice Board granted the teen bail, stipulating conditions such as working with traffic police for 15 days, attending a de-addiction program, and writing an essay. This decision has been met with significant criticism.
Akhilesh Awadhiya, the uncle of victim Aneesh Awadhiya, expressed his frustration with the bail conditions, calling them inadequate. He criticized the perceived leniency due to the teen's wealthy background and labeled the minor as a "human bomb."
Prashant Patil, the lawyer representing the teen, stated that they are adhering to the legal process and that the accused is entitled to bail. He assured that all actions are being conducted under the law and that they will argue the case based on its legal merits.
Additionally, proceedings have been initiated against the teen's father and the bar that served him alcohol under Sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
