In the aftermath of the tragic car crash in Pune involving a Porsche driven by a 17-year-old boy that resulted in the death of two techies, the Pune Police have arrested the father of the teenager. Vishal Agrawal, a real estate developer, was apprehended in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Aurangabad, after a case was registered against him on Monday, May 20. The arrest came early Tuesday morning, and Agrawal will be presented in court later today. He faces charges under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
The two victims, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta were struck by the speeding Porsche in Pune's Kalyani Nagar locality around 3:15 am on Sunday. Ashwini died instantly, while Aneesh succumbed to his injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital. The teenage driver was granted bail within 14 hours of his detention, sparking significant public outrage.
Additionally, three executives from two bars where the minor was served alcohol have been arrested. Pralhad Bhutda, the owner of Cosie restaurant, and managers Sachin Katkar and Sandip Sangle from Cosie and Hotel Black respectively, were detained. CCTV footage surfaced showing the minor consuming alcohol at these establishments before the accident.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused Pune police of leniency, claiming the minor was served pizza and burgers at the police station, and alleged political interference helped the teenager avoid strict action. Raut demanded the removal of Pune's police commissioner.
Family members of the victims expressed their grief and called for stringent action. Ashwini Koshta’s father, Suresh Koshta, spoke about their shattered dreams, while her brother Sampreet emphasized the need for strict measures to prevent such incidents. Aneesh Awadhiya’s uncle criticized the bail conditions and described the minor as a "human bomb."
The Juvenile Justice Board granted the teenager bail with conditions including visiting the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to study traffic rules and writing an essay on road accidents and their solutions. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that the police would seek permission to try the teenager as an adult and assured a thorough investigation, including probing why the car had no number plate and the duration of its temporary number plate use. An eyewitness claimed that three people were in the Porsche, with one fleeing the scene post-accident, and alleged that all occupants were intoxicated.
