Pune Porsche case: Juvenile Justice Board rejects plea to try accused as adult

Pune: In a major decision for the ongoing Pune Porsche crash case, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has reportedly rejected the Pune Police's application to try the teenage accused as an adult. This ruling means the teenager, allegedly involved in the fatal May 2024 accident that claimed the lives of two IT professionals, will continue to face proceedings under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, as a minor.

The high-profile incident occurred in the early hours of May 19, 2024, when a speeding luxury Porsche, allegedly driven by the intoxicated minor, crashed into a motorcycle in Kalyani Nagar, instantly killing Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta. The case quickly drew national outrage, particularly after the JJB's initial decision to grant the minor bail under seemingly lenient conditions, including writing an essay on road safety. This initial ruling was later revoked, and the minor was sent to an observation home, though he was subsequently released to his paternal aunt following a Bombay High Court order.

The Pune Police had vehemently argued for the minor to be tried as an adult, citing the heinous nature of the crime and invoking sections of the Indian Penal Code, including culpable homicide and forgery (in connection with alleged blood sample tampering). They contended that the teenager, being over 16 years old and aware of the consequences of his actions, should be subjected to the adult criminal justice system.

However, the defence counsel consistently opposed this plea, emphasising that the primary objective of the Juvenile Justice Act is rehabilitation and social reintegration, not adult-like punishment. They are understood to have referenced Supreme Court judgments to argue that the charges, despite their gravity, might not legally qualify as "heinous" under the strict definitions within the Juvenile Justice Act, particularly concerning minimum prescribed punishments.