A year after the tragic Porsche crash in Pune that killed two young IT professionals, the families of the victims are still waiting for the promised fast-track trial, raising questions about the pace of justice in a case that sparked national outrage.
On May 19, 2024, a Porsche allegedly driven by an inebriated 17-year-old from an influential business family rammed into a two-wheeler in Kalyani Nagar, killing Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa. Despite assurances of a swift legal process, the trial has yet to begin.
The delay comes amid serious allegations of evidence tampering to protect the minor accused. Ten individuals, including the accused’s parents, doctors at Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital, and several middlemen, were arrested. The Pune Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) initially granted the accused bail within hours, with conditions such as writing a 300-word essay on road safety—sparking public outrage and prompting a review by the police. He was later moved to an observation home and released after a Bombay High Court order. The JJB has yet to rule on a plea to try the accused as an adult, with the next hearing scheduled for May 20, 2025.
Om Awadhiya, father of victim Anish Awadhiya, expressed deep frustration: “We were told justice would be swift, but we are still waiting. Not a single day goes by without us thinking of Anish. Our lives have been shattered. We only hope that the law delivers justice soon.”
According to investigators, blood samples of the accused were allegedly swapped with those of his mother to hide alcohol consumption. Financial transactions involving middlemen were reportedly used to facilitate the tampering. The accused’s father remains in custody, while his mother was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in April. The discharge application filed by Dr. Ajay Taware, the then-head of the forensic medicine department at Sassoon Hospital, has further delayed the case proceedings.
Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray emphasized the seriousness of the matter: “This is not a routine accident. It involves deliberate tampering of crucial evidence. Except for the mother, no other accused has been granted bail due to our strong opposition.”
The incident led to widespread scrutiny of Pune’s nightlife scene and enforcement of laws against underage drinking. Two hotels that served liquor to the minor and his friends faced action. According to traffic police data, monthly drunk driving detections rose sharply from an average of 98.5 before the crash to over 611 cases per month after the incident.
“We now set up 20-25 checkpoints weekly, especially during weekends and festivals,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil. “The spike in detections reflects our intensified enforcement strategy.”
Sources By Agencies