Porsche accident in Pune: 2 doctors in custody; father and grandfather of a teenager charged with fraud

Several people were remanded in custody on Friday as part of the ongoing investigation into the Porsche accident in Pune. The father and grandfather of the youth who was driving the vehicle have been charged with cheating and criminal intimidation. Police have also filed charges against the duo and three others for abetting the suicide of a businessman’s son in the city.

Two IT professionals from Madhya Pradesh were killed last month when a 17-year-old boy driving a Porsche rammed their motorcycle. The minor driver was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and is currently in an observation home.

Police had earlier arrested two doctors and a hospital staff member at Sassoon General Hospital for allegedly tampering with the minor’s blood samples to fabricate evidence that he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. One of the doctors is suspected to have been in contact with the teenager’s father.

Several family members of the accused boy have also been taken into custody in recent weeks. His father – real estate developer Vishal Agarwal – and mother are currently in police custody pending blood sample sharing proceedings. The teenager’s grandfather is currently in custody on suspicion of kidnapping and unlawfully confining the family’s driver, who was pressured to tell police that he was behind the wheel when the fatal accident occurred.

Here are the latest updates:

• A court in Pune on Friday remanded two doctors and an employee of Sassoon General Hospital and another person in judicial custody for 14 days. Dr Ajay Taware, Dr Shrihari Halnor and Atul Ghatkamble – all of whom work at Sassoon General Hospital – are accused of conspiring with the teenager’s parents to switch blood samples meant for tests to detect alcohol consumption.
• Investigators are now demanding remand of Amar Gaikwad as important information about his role has come to light. According to police, he worked as a middleman between the accused doctors and the youth’s father. Gaikwad was also remanded in custody today.
• A case of fraud and criminal intimidation was filed against the youth’s father and grandfather on Friday. The unrelated case was filed by real estate agent Mushtaq Momin, alleging that the father-son duo and another person did not pay him a commission of ₹1.32 Crore in lieu of acquiring possession of a property.
• This development came just hours after the duo was arrested in an old case of assisting suicide.
• The minor remains in an observation home while the court, at the request of the police, has extended the police custody of his parents until June 10.

(With contributions from agencies)