Pune Porsche car crash: probe transferred to crime branch, boy's father in judicial custody

The Pune Porsche accident case involving a 17-year-old boy was transferred to the crime branch.

Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told PTI news agency on 24th of May that the crime branch was already investigating the offence registered against the father of the juvenile, Vishal Agarwal, and the owner and staffers of two liquor bars who allegedly served liquor to the boy before the accident.

Meanwhile, a local court remanded Agarwal, father of the boy, and five other accused in the case in judicial custody till June 7.

The prosecution had demanded extension of their police custody for further probe.

But the court remanded Agarwal and others including the owner and employees of two liquor-serving establishments -- where the teenager had allegedly consumed alcohol before his Porsche car knocked down two software professionals on a motorbike -- in judicial custody instead.

Attempts were made to make it appear that the minor was not at the wheel and some adult person was driving the car at the time of the accident in the early hours of May 19, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had said earlier in the day.

Agarwal and the other five accused were produced before additional sessions judge S P Ponkshe after their police custody came to an end.

The other accused are Naman Bhutada, owner of Cosie Restaurant, its manager Sachin Katkar; manager of Black Club Sandip Sangale and its employees Jayesh Gavkar and Nitesh Shevani.

Agarwal, a real estate developer, was arrested under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, while the others were booked for allegedly serving alcohol to an underage person.

Section 75 deals with "willful neglect of a child, or exposing a child to mental or physical illnesses," while section 77 deals with supplying a child with intoxicating liquor or drugs.

According to the FIR , despite knowing that his son did not have a valid driving license, Agarwal (50) gave him the car, thus endangering the teenager's life, and allowed him to party even when Agarwal knew that he consumed liquor.

During the hearing on Friday, the prosecution while seeking extension of the police custody told the court that the juvenile had paid a bill of Rs 47,000 at Cosie Restaurant that night, and the police wanted to find out details of the bank account from which the payment was made.

Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC has been added to the charges against Agarwal over non-payment of RTO fees towards the Porsche's registration, the prosecutor said.

(With PTI inputs)

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