Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has vowed stringent action against the teenager responsible for a fatal car crash in Pune. The 17-year-old, driving a high-end Porsche, collided with a motorbike, resulting in the immediate deaths of two IT professionals. Fadnavis criticized the “lenient” punishment imposed by the Juvenile Justice Board, which required the teen to write a 300-word essay on accidents, work with the traffic police for 15 days, and undergo counselling for alcohol consumption. “How can the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board give such an order?” he questioned.
The incident occurred early Sunday in the Kalyani Nagar area when the allegedly intoxicated teenager, driving his father’s Porsche, struck and killed Ashwini and Aneesh. Witnesses reported that Ashwini was thrown 20 feet into the air, while Aneesh was propelled into a parked car.
Fadnavis stated, “We have appealed to the district court against the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board’s order. There is significant public outrage. I have reviewed the latest investigation updates.”
The teen, son of a well-known Pune realtor, was reportedly seen drinking with friends at a bar hours before the crash. Police have arrested the bar owners for serving alcohol to minors, as the legal drinking age in Maharashtra is 25. According to police, the boy visited two restaurants with a group of 10–12 friends on Saturday night, where they were served alcohol.
Fadnavis highlighted that the teen, being 17 years and 8 months old, should be considered an adult for heinous crimes, referencing the Nirbhaya case provisions.
The teen was apprehended but released on bail within 15 hours, igniting public outrage. His father has since been arrested under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act for willful neglect and supplying intoxicating liquor to a minor.
Fadnavis outlined government measures to prevent similar incidents, stating, “We have alerted the administration to take strict action against pubs violating the law and to increase police checks for drink driving at key locations.”
The crash has also stirred political controversy, with Uddhav Thackeray camp leader Sanjay Raut criticizing the Pune Police for the perceived delay in acting against the teen.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar asserted that he had requested permission from the board to try the minor as an adult and place him in an observation home due to the heinous nature of the crime, but this request was denied. The police have since approached the District Court.
Kumar challenged critics to substantiate claims that the police acted under pressure or leniency towards the accused, noting the teen’s father is a prominent real estate developer in Pune.
Additionally, the owner of Cosie Bar has been arrested for allegedly serving alcohol to the minor and his friends. Kumar assured that the police are building a “watertight case” to prosecute the teen, emphasizing, “Despite the blood report outcome, we aim to establish this as a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.”
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