Pune Porsche Crash: Teen Driver Won’t Face Trial As Adult, Rules Juvenile Board

The crash, which occurred in May 2023, involved a luxury Porsche Taycan, reportedly worth Rs 2.5 crore, driven by the 17-year-old. Under the influence of alcohol

The teen, who was reportedly out celebrating exam results, is said to have spent Rs 48,000 on alcohol at a Pune bar

Source : PTI

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has ruled that the teenage boy at the center of the high-profile Pune Porsche crash cannot be tried as an adult, reaffirming his status as a minor at the time of the incident. This decision comes even though the accused has since crossed the age threshold.

The crash, which occurred in May 2023, involved a luxury Porsche Taycan, reportedly worth Rs 2.5 crore, driven by the 17-year-old. Under the influence of alcohol, he is said to have lost control of the vehicle and fatally hit two young software engineers, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both aged 24 and from Madhya Pradesh. The two were on a two-wheeler when the car struck.

Underage Drinking, Missing Evidence, And Alleged Cover-up

The teen, who was reportedly out celebrating exam results, is said to have spent Rs 48,000 on alcohol at a Pune bar, an amount accumulated in just 90 minutes. At the time, he was underage for both driving and drinking; Maharashtra law sets the legal drinking age at 25.

Public anger erupted following the incident, especially after reports surfaced accusing the police of tampering with evidence. This included allegedly offering the boy burgers shortly after the crash in an attempt to mask his blood alcohol content. Furthermore, police failed to alert senior officials, a violation of established protocol.

Medical procedures also came under suspicion when it was revealed that the blood samples taken were not his but those of his mother. She was later arrested and released in April. The doctors involved, Ajay Taware and Shrihari Halnor, along with a hospital employee and two intermediaries, are currently behind bars.

Bail, Backlash, And Ongoing Legal Scrutiny

The JJB’s decision to grant bail to the accused just 15 hours after the crash, with conditions such as writing a 300-word essay, sparked widespread criticism. Following public outrage, the board later ordered that the boy be placed in state custody, but this was overruled by the Bombay High Court.

Authorities had previously requested that the teen be tried as an adult, citing the “heinous” nature of the crime. However, with the JJB’s recent decision, that avenue appears closed for now.