Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and surprise over the lenient approach taken by the Juvenile Justice Board in the Pune car crash case involving a minor boy. The incident, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two motorbike-borne IT professionals, sparked widespread outrage.
Following the crash, the accused teenager was swiftly granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board, prompting criticism from Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio. He made an unexpected visit to the Pune Police Commissionerate office to review the case and address the media afterward.
Fadnavis revealed that the police had petitioned the board to treat the teenager as an adult due to his age being 17 years and eight months. However, the board released him on bail, directing him to complete tasks such as studying traffic rules and submitting a presentation on road accidents within 15 days.
Describing the board's decision as shocking and surprising, Fadnavis highlighted the public outrage it triggered. The police have filed a review petition with the higher court, and if necessary, they will approach the court directly.
According to police reports, the accused juvenile and his friends had allegedly consumed alcohol at two hotels before the accident, as captured by CCTV footage. The victims, both aged 24 and identified as Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa from Madhya Pradesh, lost their lives tragically in the crash.
