Teenager Set Free in Connection with the Pune Porsche Crash that Caused Death

Bombay High Court orders release of minor involved in fatal Pune Porsche crash, deeming continued detention unlawful. The case, involving two deaths, sparked controversy over juvenile justice and road safety. Teen's family faces charges for evidence tampering.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that the minor involved in the fatal Porsche crash in Pune on May 19, 2024, that killed two people is free to go. The court’s decision was that although the event was a disaster, it was unlawful to detain the teenage more.  

The 17-year-old suspect who had reportedly lent a high speed Porsche on the influence of alcohol rammed into a motorcycle at Kalyani Nagar in Pune resulting into the death of two software engineers Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta. 

A division bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande considered a habeas corpus plea by the minor’s paternal aunt, Pooja Jain. The judge directed that the boy be handed over to his aunt’s care noting that the goals and objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act demand that children in conflict with the law are handled differently from adults regardless the gravity of the offense. 

The case had raised controversy when the Juvenile Justice Board which held the minor had granted him a bail on the same day of the incident on condition that he writes an essay on road safety. Due to the public outcry, the bail order was changed and the teenager was taken to an observation home in Pune. 

The court has considered the minor’s ongoing rehabilitation that includes going to a psychologist. The bench said that the actions of the state were immediate and could be attributed to the attack. 

Parents and the boy’s grandfather are currently under judicial detention for various offenses, including the alleged alteration of blood samples to remove toxic influence on the boy. 

Also Read: Pune Doctors Arrested for Trying to Destroy Evidence in Porsche Crash That Killed Doctor

Notably, civil liberties have been raised with regards to juvenile justice and road safety in India after this ruling. In the following development of the case, it reveals a conflict of the two essential interests of the Indian legal system: public safety and the rights of minors.