Early on Sunday morning in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar, a Porsche car driven by a 17-year-old allegedly intoxicated driver hit two IT workers. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has promised strict action against the teenager, who immediately killed two people in the crash. Mr. Fadnavis criticized the juvenile justice board’s “lenient” penalty, which involved the teen writing a 300-word essay, working with traffic police for 15 days, and receiving counseling. “How can the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board give such an order?” he questioned.
Witnesses said the impact hurled Aneesh into a parked car and threw Ashwini 20 feet into the air. Mr. Fadnavis said, “We have appealed against the JJ Board order with the district court. People are outraged. I have reviewed the investigation updates.”
Hours before the accident, the teenager, the son of a well-known Pune realtor, was seen drinking at a bar with friends. The bar owners were arrested for allowing underage drinking. In Maharashtra, the legal drinking age is 25. Authorities said the teen spent the night at two restaurants with friends, consuming alcohol.
Mr. Fadnavis noted that at 17 years and 8 months old, the teen should be considered an adult in such heinous crimes, as per the Nirbhaya case ruling. The boy was arrested within fifteen hours but released on bail, which angered the public. His father was arrested under the Juvenile Justice Act for neglect and providing intoxicating liquor.
Mr. Fadnavis outlined plans to prevent similar incidents, including taking action against pubs violating laws and increasing police checks for drunk driving. Sanjay Raut, leader of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, questioned the Pune Police’s delay in taking action. However, Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar defended the actions taken, stating they sought to try the teen as an adult, but the board denied the request. The police are now approaching the District Court. Kumar challenged critics to prove claims of leniency toward the juvenile suspect.
