Pune: In a major development in the high-profile Pune Porsche crash case, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Tuesday ruled that the 17-year-old accused in the May 2023 accident will be tried as a juvenile and not as an adult. This decision comes after the JJB rejected the plea filed by the Pune Police seeking permission to prosecute the teen under adult charges due to the gravity of the incident.
The fatal crash occurred on May 19, 2023, in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar, when the teen—allegedly under the influence of alcohol—rammed his father’s high-end electric Porsche into a two-wheeler, killing two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, on the spot. The tragic incident drew national outrage over the circumstances surrounding the minor’s bail and the alleged attempts to cover up the crime.
Immediately after the crash, the accused was granted bail under lenient conditions, which included writing a short essay on road safety. The decision triggered widespread criticism and intense public scrutiny, forcing authorities to send the teen to an observation home three days later.
While Pune Police had argued that the minor committed a “heinous act” and tampered with evidence, the Juvenile Justice Board concluded that the law must be applied in accordance with provisions meant for juveniles. Consequently, the teen will face trial under juvenile legal procedures.
On June 25, 2024, the Bombay High Court had also intervened, declaring the boy’s continued detention in the observation home as illegal and ordering his immediate release, reinforcing the need for strict adherence to juvenile law.
