Pune police are considering charges against the father of a minor allegedly involved in a fatal Porsche crash for destroying evidence. According to Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, the father attempted to falsely show that an adult, not his son, was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 a.m. on May 19, resulted in the deaths of two IT engineers at the Kalyani Nagar junction.
Commissioner Kumar confirmed that the investigation revealed the minor, the son of a prominent real estate developer, was indeed driving the Porsche. The car contained four occupants: the minor, two of his friends, and a family-employed driver. Evidence indicates the father tried to shift blame from his son to the adult driver. Kumar stated, "We are exploring the option of applying Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code for destroying evidence."
The case took a significant turn when the Pune police arrested Surendra Agarwal, the minor’s grandfather, early Saturday morning. He is accused of threatening the driver, Gangaram, and coercing him to falsely claim he was driving the Porsche during the crash. This incident marks the third FIR in the ongoing investigation.
The police detailed how Surendra Agarwal allegedly intimidated the driver. After the crash, Agarwal and the minor’s father reportedly offered cash and gifts to the driver, later resorting to threats to force him to take the blame. Commissioner Kumar disclosed, "The driver was forcibly taken to their bungalow, where his phone was confiscated, and he was confined in a room. He was promised a cash reward only if he accepted their offer to take all the blame."
Initially, the driver told police he was driving the car, but investigators were skeptical. Commissioner Kumar noted, "After a preliminary inquiry, it was evident that the minor was driving the vehicle. We registered an offence against the juvenile accordingly."
A Pune court has remanded the minor’s grandfather to police custody until May 28, while the father is in judicial custody until June 7. Both face charges under IPC sections 365 for kidnapping with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person, and 368 for wrongfully concealing or keeping someone in confinement. The driver and his family are now under police protection.
Adding a unique twist to the case, the youth wing of the Pune Congress has organized an essay competition outside the pub where the minor allegedly consumed alcohol before the crash. Scheduled for May 26, the competition's topics include "What if my father was a builder," "The side effects of alcohol," "My favorite luxury car," and "Who killed Ashwini and Anish," reflecting the tragic events of May 19.
The case drew widespread criticism when, within 15 hours of the accident, the Juvenile Justice Board granted bail to the 17-year-old. One condition of his bail was to write a 300-word essay on "Effect of road accidents and their solution," a move seen by many as insufficient given the gravity of the incident.
This high-profile case continues to unfold, highlighting issues of accountability, influence, and justice within the Indian legal system. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on ensuring that all those responsible are held accountable for their actions.