Pune Porsche Crash: Doctors Arrested for Tampering with Teen's Blood Sample in Fatal Accident

 IMAGE SOURCE- HINDUSTAN TIMES

 Pune Police Arrest Two Doctors for Manipulating Blood Sample in Fatal Porsche Crash Involving Teen

On Monday, Pune police arrested two doctors from Sassoon General Hospital for allegedly manipulating the blood sample of a 17-year-old involved in a fatal crash that killed two IT professionals. The incident occurred at around 2:15 am on May 19 in Kalyani Nagar, where the teen, driving a Porsche, crashed into a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that the minor was celebrating his Class 12 results at a nearby pub, where he was seen consuming alcohol before the accident. The teen faces charges of rash and negligent driving, endangering life, and causing harm under IPC Sections 304A, 279, 337, 338, and 427, along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Act. On May 21, the police added Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act, which addresses driving under the influence, to the charges.

Following the incident, the police also arrested the teen's father, Vishal Agarwal, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Commissioner Kumar announced the arrests of Dr. Ajay Taware, head of the forensics department at Sassoon Hospital, and Dr. Shrihari Harnor, chief medical officer, for allegedly tampering with the blood reports and evidence in the case.

These arrests followed the suspension of an inspector and another official from the Yerwada police station for failing to promptly take the teen for a medical examination after the crash. The blood sample test, conducted at 11 am, was delayed by more than eight hours after the accident. Kumar explained that the police were initially occupied with managing the accident scene and the crowd, contributing to the delay.

Evidence of the minor’s alcohol consumption came from CCTV footage and receipts from two restaurants where he was seen drinking before the crash. Despite the delay, the police gathered enough evidence to support their case.

On Wednesday, the Juvenile Justice Board of Pune sent the teen to an observation home until June 5. This decision followed significant public outrage after the board initially granted the teen bail on May 19, under conditions that included mandatory counseling, participation in a de-addiction program, and writing a 300-word essay on road safety.

The police have requested that the teen be tried as an adult, a request initially denied by the Juvenile Justice Board. The matter has now been referred back to the board by the Pune district court for reconsideration under the Juvenile Justice Act.

In a related development, the police also arrested the teen's grandfather, Surendra Agarwal, on Saturday. He allegedly pressured the family's driver to take the blame for the accident by offering money and making threats. Surendra Agarwal was arrested for the illegal confinement of the driver and was remanded to police custody until May 28. Commissioner Kumar stated that the grandfather had offered the driver any amount of money he desired to assume responsibility for the crash.