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Aug 23, 2024 at 20:53
Porsche Crash Case: Bail Rejected for Six Accused in Blood Swap Plot
A local court in Pune, on Thursday, rejected the bail applications of six individuals, including the parents of a 17-year-old driver involved in the Kalyaninagar Porsche car crash. This controversial case revolves around an alleged blood-swapping conspiracy following the tragic accident that claimed the lives of two IT professionals on May 19. The court’s decision is a significant step in the legal proceedings against the accused, who are charged with conspiring to tamper with evidence to shield the teenage driver from accusations of driving under the influence.
Court’s Decision on Bail Applications:
- Additional Sessions Judge U.M. Mudholkar denied bail to the teenage driver’s parents as well as two suspended doctors from Sassoon General Hospital, Ajay Taware and Shrihari Halnor, and alleged middlemen Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad.
- The court ruled that releasing the accused on bail could jeopardize the investigation, stating that they have the capacity to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. The judge noted: “Granting bail would shake the conscience of society and would send a wrong message to society. No case is made out to release the accused on bail.”
The Allegations Against the Accused:
- The case stems from a Porsche car crash on May 19, in which the underage driver collided with a motorbike, leading to the deaths of two IT professionals. Allegedly, the driver’s parents conspired with doctors and middlemen to swap his blood samples with his mother’s, to establish that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident.
- According to the court, the parents used their financial influence to orchestrate the evidence tampering, with Senior Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray arguing that they “toyed with the judicial system by tampering with evidence.”
Prosecution’s Arguments:
- The prosecution argued that if bail were granted, the accused could intimidate witnesses or potentially flee the jurisdiction. Drawing parallels to cases involving high-profile fugitives such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, ACP Ganesh Ingale expressed concerns over the risk of witness intimidation.
- The 45-page court order detailed the influence of the teenager’s parents, stating that they are “influential figures” who could use their power to manipulate witnesses and hinder the legal process.
Statements from Defense Counsel:
- The defense team, consisting of Harshad Nimbalkar, Sudhir Shah, Rishikesh Ganu, Prashant Patil, Prasad Kulkarni, and Shivam Nimbalkar, maintained that the investigation by Pune police was complete and a chargesheet had already been filed. Harshad Nimbalkar remarked: “We will move Bombay High Court against the rejection of the bail pleas as our case is that Pune police have completed their investigation and have filed a chargesheet.”
Case Background and Evidence:
- The case involves the death of two software engineers on May 19 at 2:30 a.m. when their motorbike was struck by the teenager’s Porsche Taycan. The teenage driver was reportedly returning home with two friends, both minors, and the family driver, after celebrating the completion of their 12th board exams at two pubs.
- The court referred to the 900-page chargesheet, which reveals that evidence tampering began almost immediately after the accident. The judge remarked: “Even before the splashes of blood of the victims lying on the road could dry, tampering with evidence commenced and even concluded to a larger extent with the help of monetary influence or otherwise at odd hours.”
Ongoing Legal Actions:
- The labour contractor Arun Kumar Singh, who is suspected of involvement in the conspiracy and has been on the run, filed for anticipatory bail on Thursday. The Pune Crime Branch has already arrested two individuals, including the father of one of the two minors who were present in the Porsche at the time of the crash.
- Notably, the teenage driver’s case is pending before the Juvenile Justice Board.
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