On Tuesday, Pune police arrested Vishal Agarwal, a real estate developer and father of the 17-year-old boy whose speeding Porsche car recently caused a fatal accident in the upscale Kalyani Nagar area. The accident, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals, has sparked significant political controversy. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) accused the police and a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA of shielding the accused minor.
Arrest and Charges
Agarwal, who had been evading arrest, was apprehended by the Pune police’s crime branch from a hotel in Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) early Tuesday morning. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed that Agarwal will be produced in court on Wednesday. Alongside Agarwal, four other individuals, including proprietors and executives of two pubs—BLAK and Cosie—were arrested for serving alcohol to the minor.
All five face charges under sections of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, following CCTV evidence showing the minor and his friends consuming alcohol at one of the bars before the accident.
The Accident
In the early hours of Sunday, the minor, under the influence of alcohol, crashed his Porsche into a motorbike, killing both riders, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, who were in their mid-20s. The pune police promptly registered a case under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Political and Public Reaction
The incident has drawn widespread outrage, especially after the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) granted the minor bail 15 hours after the accident. The board’s decision, which included a mandate for the minor to write an essay on road accidents and visit the Regional Transport Office, has been heavily criticized.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a thorough investigation. At the same time, Congress Leader Vijay Wadettiwar and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut demanded a judicial inquiry and called for the Police Commissioner’s dismissal. Wadettiwar highlighted the absence of a registration number on the luxury car and questioned how the pub served alcohol to a minor despite a negative alcohol test result.
Police and Government Response
Fadnavis, who reviewed the case with top police officials, defended the police’s actions, criticizing the JJB’s lenient decision. He announced stricter scrutiny of pub licenses and emphasized that any violations would result in immediate closure. Fadnavis also pointed out that the police had applied section 304, treating the minor as an adult due to the severity of the crime.
Commissioner Kumar addressed allegations of Pune police leniency and corruption, stating that the investigation was conducted with utmost seriousness. He assured that evidence, including CCTV footage and online transactions, supported the case against the minor.
Public Outcry and Protests
The incident has led to protests from various political leaders and citizens. Congress leaders, including Kasba Peth MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, staged a demonstration outside the Yerwada police station, criticizing the police for not applying the correct charges initially. Sena leader Sanjay Raut accused the police of corruption and called for the Commissioner’s removal, urging Pune citizens to protest.
The Pune police have committed to pursuing the case rigorously, ensuring that justice should served to the victims and their families.