The Supreme Court has stepped into the high-profile Pune Porsche car crash case, directing the Maharashtra government to respond to appeals filed by two co-accused. The apex court's bench, comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, issued the notice on Wednesday, making it returnable by January 30, 2026.
The Core of the Appeal
The appeals challenge a Bombay High Court order from December 16, which rejected the bail pleas of the accused. The appellants are the fathers of two minors who were accompanying the 17-year-old driver in the Porsche Taycan on the fateful night of May 19, 2024. The tragic incident in Pune's Kalyaninagar area claimed the lives of two young software engineers when the luxury car, allegedly driven by the intoxicated teenager, rammed into their motorcycle around 2:30 am.
Similar to the teenage driver's father, a prominent builder, these appellants face serious allegations of conspiring to manipulate the blood samples of their sons. The samples were taken for an alcohol test after the accident and sent to the state-run Sassoon Hospital.
A Web of Allegations and Conspiracy
The prosecution's case outlines a detailed conspiracy. It is alleged that the blood sample of the 17-year-old driver was replaced with that of his mother. Furthermore, the blood samples of the two accompanying minors were swapped with samples from other individuals, including one of the accused fathers' friends.
The Bombay High Court had rejected bail not just for these fathers but for a total of eight individuals involved in the alleged sample tampering. The list of accused whose bail was denied includes:
- The teenage driver's father (the builder)
- Dr. Ajay Taware, the then-head of the forensic sciences department at Sassoon Hospital
- Dr. Shrihari Halnor, the then-chief medical officer at Sassoon Hospital (both doctors are now suspended)
- Two agents, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, who allegedly facilitated the exchange of money
- The fathers of the two other minors in the car
- A friend of one of these fathers, who is accused of giving his blood as a replacement sample
Legal Battle and State's Stance
During the Supreme Court hearing, the state's standing counsel accepted the notice. Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray, who represented the state in the High Court, confirmed to the Times of India that the apex court heard the two appeals before issuing the notice. He stated unequivocally, "We will be strongly opposing the appeals."
The case continues to unfold as a stark example of alleged influence and manipulation following a tragic accident. The Supreme Court's notice sets the stage for a prolonged legal battle, with the next significant procedural date set for early 2026. The outcome will be closely watched, as it touches upon issues of juvenile justice, accountability of professionals, and the reach of the law in cases involving the powerful.
