Incident Overview:
- Date of Incident: May 19, 2024.
- Location: Kalyani Nagar junction, Pune.
- Victims: Two young engineers, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, were killed.
- Accused: A 17-year-old boy driving a Porsche car.
- Accident: The minor allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol hit a motorcycle, killing two riders instantly.
- Eyewitnesses caught the boy and handed him over to the police. The FIR was registered at Yerwada police station around 8 am.
- Initial Medical Examination: The minor was taken to Sassoon Hospital at 11 am for a blood alcohol test.
- Tampering Allegation: Initial FSL report showed no alcohol, raising suspicions.
- Investigation Findings:
- Blood samples were switched with those of a non-alcoholic individual.
- DNA tests confirmed the samples were from different individuals.
- Doctors Arrested:
- Dr. Ajay Taware, Head of Forensic Medicine Department.
- Dr. Shrihari Harnol, Senior Doctor at Sassoon Hospital.
- Charges over doctors are Criminal conspiracy, forgery, and destruction of evidence.
- Additional Sample Collection: Pune Police took another blood sample in the evening on May 19 for DNA testing.
- Suspension of Officers:
- Inspector Rahul Jagdale.
- Assistant Police Inspector Vishwanath Todkari.
- Suspended for mishandling the investigation and failing to report promptly.
- Juvenile Justice Board (JJB):
- Initially granted bail with conditions including writing an essay on traffic safety.
- After public outcry, sent the minor to an observation home until June 5.
- Legal Charges Against the Minor:
- Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC.
- Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (drunk driving offenses).
- Arrests:
- Vishal Agrawal, father of the minor, a real estate developer.
- The minor's grandfather.
- Attempting to bribe and threaten the family driver to take the blame.
In a major twist, the case has exposed serious flaws in the handling of evidence and potential abuse of power. The tampering of blood samples by senior doctors has raised significant concerns about the integrity of forensic processes. The prompt action by the Pune Police in arresting the involved doctors and suspending the police officers responsible for the initial mishandling of the case underscores the gravity of the situation. These developments have fueled public outrage and calls for systemic reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
Public and Victims' Families Response:- Demand: Families of the deceased demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe and trial.
- Concerns: Handling of the case and preferential treatment due to the accused's family connections.
Overview:
- The case has highlighted serious issues of evidence tampering and procedural lapses.
- The police’s actions and arrests indicate a commitment to addressing these breaches.
- Ongoing investigations aim to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for all involved.