Following a tragic car crash involving a 17-year-old, the father was arrested in Aurangabad, Maharashtra by the Crime Branch. Additionally, bar owners have been detained for serving alcohol to the minor. The incident occurred in Pune's Kalyani Nagar early on a Sunday morning. According to police, the luxury Porsche being driven by the minor collided with a motorcycle from behind, instantly killing the two software engineers, Anil Awadhiya and Ashwini Kosta, who were riding it.
Police stated that CCTV footage showed the car traveling at approximately 200 km/h on a narrow road. The accused minor is the son of Vishal Agarwal, a prominent Pune builder. Charges have been filed against Agarwal under the Juvenile Justice Act Sections 75 and 77. Pune's Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar mentioned that the minor was out celebrating his Grade 12 results at the bar. CCTV footage also caught the underage boy consuming alcohol prior to the accident.
Minor Defendant Caught Drinking on CCTV
The FIR notes the minor defendant and his friends were partying at Cozy Bar (from 9:30 pm to midnight) and later moved to Black Bar (from midnight to 1 am). It's highlighted that in Maharashtra, serving alcohol to anyone under 25 years old is illegal. Given that the defendant was only 17, the bar owners are now facing charges for serving him alcohol.
Juvenile Justice Board Grants Bail to Defendant Within 15 Hrs
Local public outrage intensifies over the accident, escalating further after the Juvenile Justice Board quickly granted bail, merely 15 hours into custody. The bail conditions mandate counseling for the minor and a 300-word essay on road safety. The Board's lenient response has widely been criticized given the accident's severity. Following this bail, Pune police submitted a plea in the sessions court to try the juvenile as an adult.
Motion to Try Juvenile as an Adult Underway
Pune police are pushing for stringent judicial proceedings due to the crime's severity. The Police Commissioner stated, 'We are treating this incident seriously and have proceeded under IPC Section 304, a non-bailable offense, due to the heinous nature of the crime.' Concurrently, action has been initiated against the pub spotted serving alcohol to the minor. FIR against the restaurateurs and pub owners reflect grave allegations concerning their role in supplying alcohol to the minor and their contribution to the subsequent events.
