Pune Porsche Accident: Two Doctors Arrested for Manipulating Teen Driver’s Blood Sample
Pune Police Arrest Doctors for Tampering with Evidence in Porsche Crash Case
In a significant development in the Pune Porsche accident case, two doctors from Sassoon General Hospital have been arrested for allegedly manipulating the blood sample of the teenage driver involved in the fatal crash. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the arrests on Monday.
Dr. Ajay Taware, head of the forensics department, and Dr. Shrihari Harnor, chief medical officer at Sassoon Hospital, face charges of falsifying blood reports and tampering with evidence related to the accident. The case is being investigated by the crime branch.
The arrests follow the suspension of an inspector and another official from Yerwada police station for their delayed reporting of the incident and failure to conduct a timely medical examination of the teenager.
Details of the Accident
The tragic accident occurred in the early hours of May 19, when a speeding Porsche Taycan, allegedly driven by a minor, collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two young IT professionals. The police allege that the teenager was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Initially granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board, the teenager was ordered to write an essay on road accidents. However, due to public outrage and a review application by the police, he was subsequently placed in an observation home until June 5.
Family Members Arrested
The police have also arrested the teenager’s father, Vishal Agarwal, a realtor, and his grandfather, Surendra Agarwal, for their involvement in the case. The arrests were made after it was revealed that they pressured the family’s driver to take the blame for the accident in exchange for money and threats.
Surendra Agarwal faces charges of “illegal confinement” of the driver and is currently in police custody until May 28. Vishal Agarwal, already in judicial custody for another case related to the accident, has been named in the FIR. The police allege that after the accident, the driver initially claimed he was driving the car. However, it was later discovered that the teenager was the one behind the wheel.
Details of Confinement and Coercion
Commissioner Amitesh Kumar detailed that the driver was taken to the Agarwal family’s house, his phone was confiscated, and he was confined there. He was pressured to give a false statement to the police, and was offered money and gifts, as well as threats to coerce him into taking the blame for the crash.
The driver’s wife eventually freed him the following day, after which he provided a statement to the police. An offence was subsequently registered against the juvenile’s father and grandfather based on his testimony.
Legal Proceedings and Defence Arguments
Vishal Agarwal and his father have been booked under sections 365 (kidnapping) and 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement) of the Indian Penal Code. The police plan to seek Vishal’s custody in court.
Defense lawyer Prashant Patil argued against the allegations, claiming the driver was in the car at the time of the accident and stayed at the bungalow of his own accord due to the outcry over the incident. He denied any wrongful confinement or threats.
The teenager’s bail conditions and subsequent placement in an observation home highlight the ongoing legal and public scrutiny of the case.
This case continues to unfold as more details emerge and the investigation progresses, shedding light on the serious implications of tampering with legal evidence in such tragic incidents.
