In a significant development in the high-profile ‘Pune Porsche crash’ case, the Pune police have picked two persons for allegedly tampering with blood samples. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the development to be late at night on Monday.
The arrested are said to be part of a grant to change the blood samples of two of their friends who were with them in the Porsche during the time of the accident. The blood samples were tampered with to make the investigation result in favor of the accused. More inquiries about this case have been taken, meaning the rest of the suspects will appear in court on Tuesday for a remand hearing. More information concerning the investigation is expected.
Ever since it came to light, it has been under wide attention and intense scrutiny. Way back in July, when the Pune crime branch unit had at that time registered a case against various parties, including the parents of the accused minor and the medical professionals at Sassoon Hospital, the charges against them were tantamount to conspiracy to tamper with evidence and manipulating blood samples, a thread in an already sensitive case.
Going by reports, the alleged incident that has become the flashpoint took place on May 19, when a Porsche car reportedly driven by a minor under the influence of liquor rammed and killed two IT professionals in Kalyani Nagar. Evoking national-wide outrage, the incident took on more shades of provocation in the wake of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB)—overseeing the case and handling the bail plea—granting bail, that too under notably lenient conditions, to the minor. Among other conditions was that the juvenile must pen a 300-word essay on the safety of driving on roads – a move that drew intense criticism from the public and media.
The uproar following the bail decision prompted the Women and Child Development Department to establish a panel to inquire into the handling of the cases by its members when granting the bail. The case has further escalated pressure and discussions over juvenile justice practices and handling high-profile cases by minors.
As one of the conditions for the bail, the minor was supposed to write an essay highlighting the need for responsible driving and the consequences of reckless driving. This was meant to help alleviate the problem of road safety, although dissent associated with it was growing.
The Pune police have prepared a 900-page charge sheet against seven, which includes the parents of the minor. The status of the juvenile’s case (Pune Porsche Crash case) is in process with the help of the Juvenile Justice Board; the rest is part of the ongoing investigations in which the police have to work on the cross-allegation and evident tampering.
ANI
