The Juvenile Justice Board on Tuesday dismissed the Pune Police’s plea to try a 17-year-old boy as an adult in the high-profile 2023 Porsche crash case that claimed 2 lives.
The verdict means the teenager will face trial as a juvenile despite the prosecution’s argument that the incident qualifies as a heinous offence.
Incident That Sparked National Outrage
On May 19, 2023, a speeding Porsche allegedly driven by the minor—reportedly in an inebriated state—rammed into a motorcycle in Pune’s upscale Kalyani Nagar area. The collision killed two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, instantly.
The incident made national headlines, not only due to the horrific nature of the crash but also because of the swift bail granted to the minor, which included conditions such as writing a 300-word essay on road safety. This leniency sparked widespread outrage and led to legal challenges.
Why Police Wanted Him Tried As An Adult
Pune Police had urged the JJB to treat the teen as an adult, arguing that the act was heinous and intentional, and followed by attempts to tamper with evidence, including efforts to manipulate blood samples.
However, defence counsel Prashant Patil opposed the prosecution’s plea, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shilpa Mittal vs State, which defines a “heinous crime” as one with a minimum punishment of seven years under the law.
“In this case, not a single IPC section invoked carries a minimum seven-year sentence, so the plea is not maintainable,” Patil said.
JJB Had Already Conducted Assessment
Patil also argued that the JJB had earlier conducted the required preliminary assessment and did not find sufficient grounds to try the juvenile as an adult. “It is the JJB’s responsibility to decide whether a child in conflict with law (CCL) should be treated as an adult, and they have already made that call,” he added.
Bombay HC’s Previous Intervention
On June 25, 2024, the Bombay High Court had also criticized the minor’s prolonged detention in an observation home, ordering his immediate release and terming the JJB’s remand orders as illegal.
Meanwhile, arguments are ongoing in a sessions court in Pune for framing charges against 10 other accused, including the juvenile’s father and mother, doctors from Sassoon Hospital, and intermediaries allegedly involved in tampering with evidence.
According to the prosecution, efforts were made to swap blood samples to shield the minor. Although the attempt failed at Aundh Government Hospital due to non-cooperation from doctors, the involvement of several individuals has broadened the scope of the case.
While the boy’s mother is currently out on bail, the other nine accused remain in judicial custody.
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