PUNE PORSCHE CASE
The Pune Porsche case exposed the darker side of luxury and captivated the interest of both residents and enthusiasts.
Early on May 19, 2024, two IT workers- Aneesh, Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta riding a motorcycle in Pune were hit by the luxurious car driven by a 17 year old boy and were flung into the air and landed on parked vehicles. They both were from Madhya Pradesh. One of them died on the spot and the other passed away during the treatment.
The crowd caught and handed over the minor to the Yeravada Police Station.
The Juvenile Justice Board asked the boy to write an essay on road safety and left him on bail. This resulted in anger in the public and then the minor was sent to reformation center till June 5.
Later on, the boy's father was taken into custody for negligence. His grandfather was taken into custody for trying to pressurize the driver to take the responsibility of the collision. Now, the mother is under the police scanner as well. The police said they will move a higher court for permission to try the teenager involved in the accident as an adult.
A case has been registered under Section 304 of IPC and provisions of motor vehicles act and the father of the minor has been arrested under Section 199A of Motor Vehicles (MV) Act.
Provisions of Motor Vehicles Act Included are:
Section 184: Penalty for dangerous driving.
Section 185: Penalty for driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs.
Section 279: Penalty for rash driving or riding on a public way.
Section 336: Act endangering life or personal safety of others.
Section 337: Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.
Section 338: Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.
The boy has been given bail under Section 86 of the Juvenile Justice Act as the offences mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) at that stage were under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 279 (rash and negligent driving), 304A (causing death by rash and negligent driving), 337 and 338 (act endangering human life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief). The only two of these that have a two-year maximum sentence are sections 338 and 427. Penalties for the remaining are less severe.
Observations
After the FIR was lodged, the boy was taken to Sassoon Hospital for a medical examination. His blood sample was collected to check for the presence of alcohol at the time of the accident. However, a police probe revealed that doctors at the hospital had replaced his blood sample with that of another person and sent it to the forensic lab under the minor's name. As a result, police arrested Dr. Ajay Taware, the former head of the forensic department at Sassoon Hospital; Dr. Shrihari Harnol, the casualty medical officer at the time; and a Class IV employee, Atul Ghatkamble, for allegedly swapping the minor’s blood sample in exchange for financial favors. Additionally, the police recovered Rs 2.5 lakh from Harnol and Rs 50,000 from Ghatkamble.
Pune Porsche case reflected how deeply corrupt our legal system is. Where on one hand some people have to bear the pain of false accusations and live into prison for years while on the other hand some people despite being the culprits caught red handed get away with all the guilt because of the riches they offer. Where some people's lives worth is equated by 300 words road safety essay . How unfair it sounds right ? But such is life.
Surprisingly India is a fan of VIP culture. Looking back at black buck case or any other case which involves celebrities you will find how easy it is for them to mold laws according to their whims on the name of money they offer. But then the question remains the same: where should a commoner go? And whom to trust anymore? Guess these questions are going to remain unanswered for a long time.
