In a tragic incident in Pune, a 17-year-old, allegedly drunk, crashed his Porsche into a motorbike, killing two IT professionals. The accident happened in the early hours of Sunday in Kalyani Nagar, shocking the community and sparking a debate over the response of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJ Board).
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has voiced his strong disapproval of the JJ Board’s decision. The board’s ruling required the teenager to write a 300-word essay on accidents, work with the traffic police for 15 days, and undergo counselling for his drinking. Fadnavis questioned this lenient punishment, considering the severity of the crime. “How can the Juvenile Justice Board give such an order?” he asked.
According to police reports, the minor, the son of a prominent realtor in Pune, had been drinking with friends at a bar before the crash. Maharashtra’s legal drinking age is 25, and the bar owners have been arrested for allowing underage drinking. Witnesses described the horrific scene, with one victim being thrown 20 feet into the air and the other flung into a parked car.
Fadnavis has promised strong action and has appealed the JJ Board’s order in the district court. “There is a huge public outrage. I have taken stock of the investigation updates till now,” he stated. He emphasized that anyone above 16 years old should be considered an adult in cases of heinous crimes, referencing the Nirbhaya case.
The teenager was granted bail within 15 hours of the incident, adding to public anger. His father has also been arrested for neglect and supplying alcohol to a minor. Fadnavis outlined steps to prevent such incidents in the future, including stricter enforcement against pubs violating age restrictions and increased police checks for drunk driving.
The case has also led to political controversy, with Uddhav Thackeray camp leader Sanjay Raut questioning the Pune police’s delay in taking action. Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar defended the police, stating that they had requested permission to try the minor as an adult due to the severity of the crime, but the JJ Board rejected this plea. Kumar asserted that they are building a strong case against the teenager to ensure justice is served.
The incident has highlighted the need for stricter laws and enforcement to prevent such tragedies, and the community waits for the court’s decision on the appeal against the JJ Board’s ruling.
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