Supreme Court Grants Bail to Three in Pune Porsche Blood Sample Tampering Case

Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release on bail of three individuals accused of manipulating medical evidence in the high-profile 2024 Pune Porsche crash case, in which two people lost their lives. The apex court noted that the accused had already spent a prolonged period behind bars, prompting relief subject to strict conditions.

A bench led by Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan allowed bail to Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood and Amar Santhosh Gaikwad, directing the trial court to impose appropriate safeguards to ensure cooperation with the ongoing proceedings. The judges took into account that the trio had been in judicial custody for nearly one and a half years.

Investigating agencies have alleged that the three men were part of a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the investigation by altering blood samples linked to the case. According to the prosecution, blood samples of two juveniles travelling in the rear seat of the luxury car were allegedly replaced to conceal the possibility of alcohol consumption at the time of the crash. Authorities clarified that the minor who was driving the vehicle was not directly involved in the alleged blood sample exchange.

The accused face serious charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including allegations of forgery, destruction of evidence and bribery. Investigators claim that Ashish Mittal had close personal ties with the family of one of the juveniles, while Aditya Sood is the father of the other underage passenger. Amar Gaikwad is accused of acting as an intermediary and allegedly accepting ₹3 lakh to coordinate the sample replacement.

During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna made pointed remarks on the larger issue of parental responsibility, stressing that guardians cannot escape accountability when minors are given unrestricted freedom and resources. She observed that irresponsible behaviour, substance abuse during celebrations and reckless driving often end in irreversible tragedies affecting innocent lives.