Porsche accident: Teen spent ₹48,000 at first pub, says police
The Pune teenager who drove a Porsche into a bike, killing two people, spent ₹48,000 in a span of 90 minutes at one of the two pubs he visited before the accident, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has said. According to the Times of India, the teenager and his friends first visited Cosie restaurant-pub at 10:40pm on Saturday—racking up a bill of ₹48,000. When Cosie stopped serving them, they moved to a second pub, Blak Mariott, at 12:10am, Kumar added.
Teen's blood sent for forensic analysis
Kumar told NDTV that the teenager was taken for a medical test on Sunday and his blood was taken and sent for a forensic examination. "Here, we are not applying a case of 304(a) of the Indian Penal Code of drunken driving....We are applying Section 304...we are saying...he had knowledge...his rash act—where he was driving a Porsche without a number plate at...speed on a narrow street after consuming alcohol—could cause or was likely to cause death," he added.
'Action to be taken against cops found aiding teen'
Kumar said that clear instructions have been given by top officials— including the chief minister and home minister—to take strict action in the case. Responding to allegations of preferential treatment toward the juvenile while in custody, Kumar added that action would be taken against any police personnel found aiding the teenager directly or indirectly. The official added that from the beginning, the police have been acting according to the law and there is no pressure anyone.
2 engineers from MP killed
The accident occurred around 2:15am on Sunday when 24-year-olds Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, both engineers from Madhya Pradesh working in Pune were returning from a get-together. Eyewitnesses reported that the Porsche, which had no number plates, was speeding at over 200km per hour. The minor behind the wheel was detained shortly after, but was released on bail within 15 hours, leading to political and civil society pressure. The case has now been handed to Pune Police's Crime Branch.
Bail conditions of the teenager
The Pune teen was granted bail after the court said that the crime was not "serious" enough to deny him bail. The bail was, however, granted on certain conditions, including undergoing psychiatric evaluation and treatment, working alongside traffic police for 15 days, and writing a 300-word essay on the "effect of road accidents and their solution," among others.
Boy's father, pubs' staff arrested
On Tuesday, Pune police arrested Cosie restaurant owner Pralhad Bhutda, manager Sachin Katkar, and Hotel Blak manager Sandip Sangle for allegedly serving alcohol to a juvenile. Earlier, the 17-year-old's father was arrested in Aurangabad for allowing his underage son to drive an unregistered Porsche without a license. Both—the boy's father and the pubs—face charges under Sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, relating to neglect of minors and supplying them with liquor or narcotics.
Teen served pizza at police station after Porsche crash: Opposition
The case has also triggered a political slugfest in the state amid the Lok Sabha elections. On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut demanded that Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar be dismissed. He also accused an MLA from Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party of being present at the police station and assisting the 17-year-old. "Pune Police helped a rich boy who took the lives of two young people.... You're serving him pizza...burger for what?," Raut said.
