Pune: A year has passed since the Pune Porsche crash that tragically took the lives of software professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa. As the victims’ families continue to wait for justice, they express growing frustration over delays in fast-tracking the case, despite earlier assurances from authorities.
The crash, which occurred on May 19, 2024, in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area, involved a Porsche allegedly driven by a 17-year-old under the influence of alcohol. The teenager’s actions and the series of cover-ups that followed sparked a nationwide outcry and renewed scrutiny of juvenile justice reform in India.
Delayed Justice and Legal Complications
“A year has passed, and our pain only deepens. We were promised swift justice, but the trial continues to drag,” said Om Awadhiya, father of one of the victims. The sessions court has rejected bail pleas of most accused, yet delays persist as applications for discharge and procedural hurdles continue to stall the case.
Currently, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Ajay Taware and Shrihari Halnor, and several others are in jail, facing charges related to tampering with blood samples to protect the minor. His mother is out on interim bail. Read about how drunk driving cases are prosecuted in India.
Shocking Details of Evidence Tampering
Police allege that within hours of the crash, blood samples were swapped with those of the boy’s mother in a coordinated effort involving doctors, hospital staff, and middlemen. This was done to conceal the juvenile’s intoxication at the time of the accident.
Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray confirmed the prosecution is now focused on opposing the discharge applications and pressing for the framing of charges. “This is not a simple road accident. The system was manipulated to shield the accused,” he said.
Victims’ Families Speak Out
“We live with this pain daily. Our son is gone, and what hurts more is that the legal system has yet to bring closure,” said Mr. Awadhiya. He emphasized the need for fast-tracking such cases, not just for justice but as a deterrent against reckless and entitled behavior.
For more on policy efforts, see our piece on India’s evolving road safety laws in 2025.
Background: What Happened on May 19, 2024?
On that fateful night, a speeding Porsche without a license plate hit a two-wheeler in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar, instantly killing Anish and Ashwini. The accused juvenile had been drinking with friends at two upscale hotels before deciding to drive, according to police investigations.
Two police officers from Yerawada station were suspended for alleged mishandling of the early investigation. The incident also raised serious concerns about how underage individuals were served alcohol, prompting action against the hotels involved.
Following the accident, the juvenile was detained. Initially, police were accused of giving him preferential treatment, prompting Pune police chief Amitesh Kumar to suspend two cops from the Yerawada police station.
Citing the subsequent investigation, police said the teen’s father and Dr Taware, then the head of the Forensic Science department at Sassoon Hospital, got the blood samples of the juvenile swapped with those of his mother with the help of Dr Shreehari Halnore and hospital staffer Ghatkamble.
Middlemen Makandar and Gaikwad were accused of facilitating financial transactions for the alleged illegality.
Police said the blood samples of the two other minors, who were in the car, were also reportedly swapped to prevent the detection of alcohol. Police then arrested three people, including the fathers of these two minors.
After the incident, the issue of serving liquor to underage patrons took centre stage as a case was registered against two hotels that had served alcohol to the juvenile and his friends.
Current Status and Outlook
While the juvenile remains free following a Bombay High Court ruling, most of the other accused are still in custody. The prosecution hopes to overcome current legal hurdles and initiate a fast-tracked trial.
For updates from the court, visit the Bombay High Court official website. Source: Press Trust of India (PTI).
