Anis Awadhiya : “Pune Police Pursue Adult Trial for 17-Year-Old in Fatal Car Accident Case”

Pune Police announced on Monday (May 20) that they will be escalating the case of a 17-year-old boy involved in a fatal car accident in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, to a higher court in order to try him as an adult. The teenager allegedly hit two individuals riding a motorcycle with his luxury car, resulting in their immediate death.

After the incident occurred early on Sunday morning, the juvenile was apprehended at the Yerwada Police Station. His lawyer, Prashant Patil, stated that he was granted bail on the same day by the Juvenile Justice Board.

According to reports from news agency PTI, the Juvenile Justice Board instructed the teenager to visit the Regional Transport Office to familiarize himself with road rules and regulations. Within 15 days, he is required to present a report on road accidents and their potential solutions. Additionally, the board mandated the youth to assist RTO officers for a fortnight and undergo counselling at an alcohol de-addiction centre.

Authorities allege that the young offender, the son of a property developer, was intoxicated at the time of the collision. The police report indicates that after striking the two victims, the car collided with the railings on the roadside. The teenager faces charges under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as well as violations of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The father of the accused and the establishment that served alcohol to the juvenile are also being pursued under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Section 75 pertains to individuals responsible for a child’s wellbeing who neglect or abuse the child, causing harm, while Section 77 relates to supplying liquor or drugs to a minor.

The deceased victims, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, were identified as engineers from Madhya Pradesh working in Pune. They were reportedly returning from a gathering when the speeding car struck them.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated, “We submitted a request to the court (board) on Sunday to try the juvenile as an adult due to the severity of the crime, but the petition was denied. We are now seeking to transfer the case to the sessions court with the same plea.” Although the juvenile’s blood test results are pending, initial investigations suggest he was intoxicated during the accident.

Commissioner Kumar emphasized the presence of CCTV footage from the bar, clearly showing the teenager consuming alcohol. He affirmed, “There is concrete evidence that the juvenile was driving under the influence. We will present these facts to the court.” Legal action has been initiated against the father of the accused and the bar owners for serving alcohol to a minor.

Kumar praised the professionalism exhibited by the police in handling the case. “The matter has been assigned to a senior ACP-level officer, and we are committed to building a robust case. A special prosecutor will be appointed for this purpose,” he added.

(Source: PTI)