Try a Pune teenager who, as an adult, killed two people in a Porsche accident, police say

The youth was brought before the juvenile court, which granted him bail hours later.

Pune:

A day after the Juvenile Justice Board here granted bail to a teenager involved in a car accident that killed two people and asked him to write a 300-word essay, police said on Monday, that she would seek permission from a higher court to prosecute him as an adult accused.

Police have also registered a case against his father, a real estate developer, a senior official said.

The Porsche allegedly driven by the 17-year-old, who police said was drunk at the time, hit two people on a motorcycle in the Kalyani Nagar area here around 3.15 a.m. on Sunday, causing their deaths.

The youth was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail hours later. He was also directed to visit the regional transport office, study the traffic rules and submit a presentation to the board within 15 days. “The CCL (Child in Conflict with Law) will write an essay of 300 words on the subject of road accidents and their solutions,” the order said.

The board also directed the youth to refer him to an alcohol counseling center for counseling. However, the quick release on bail in a case in which two people died was met with criticism.

According to police, a case has been registered against the youth under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.

A group of friends were returning from a party on motorcycles around 3:15 a.m. on Sunday when one of the motorcycles was hit by a speeding Porsche at Kalyani Nagar intersection. The two drivers – Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, both 24-year-old IT professionals and natives of Madhya Pradesh – died from their injuries.

“We filed an application with the court on Sunday itself to try the youth as an adult and send him to an observation home as the crime is heinous, but the application was rejected. We are now approaching the district court with the same application ” said Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.

His blood work has not yet come in, but a preliminary examination showed the teen was drunk at the time of the accident, he said.

“CCTV footage from the bar clearly shows the youth had been drinking alcohol. There is no doubt that the teenager drove the car after drinking alcohol. We will submit all these facts to the court,” Commissioner Kumar said.

“We have also registered an offense against his father under Sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act and against the owners of the bar for serving alcohol to a minor. We have handed over the investigation of these cases to the criminal investigation department,” he continued.

Section 75 deals with “willful neglect of a child or exposing a child to mental or physical disease”, while section 77 deals with supplying a child with intoxicating alcohol or drugs.

Commissioner Kumar claimed that the police showed professionalism in handling the case. “The case has been referred to an AKP-level official and it is our endeavor to make the case sound. We will appoint a special prosecutor in this case,” he added.

Meanwhile, residents say they have been protesting for some time against the nuisance caused by pubs and bars in the area.

“Our neighborhood was quiet, but in recent years the bar culture has crept in and is now ruining the area,” said one woman.

The issue has been raised with the Pune Municipal Corporation, police and excise department but to no avail, she said.

Yasmin Charaniya, a member of Team Swach Kalyani Nagar (TSKN), a residents’ association, said some restaurants operate out of residential communities and serve alcohol.

“These establishments operate late into the night, sometimes until 3 or 4 am, causing nuisance. Since the new police commissioner took over, he has at least ensured that the 1:30 a.m. deadline is met,” she said.

However, residents want this deadline to be further extended to 11pm and police patrols to be increased to avoid such an accident, Charaniya added.

Police Commissioner Kumar said he would ensure that bars and other establishments cease operations at 1:30 a.m. “Our patrol teams are keeping a close eye on the situation and ensuring pubs and bars close on time,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)