Pune Porsche Accident: Cover-Up Attempt Exposed, Doctors Accused Of Faking Blood Report

Pune Police's Crime Branch recovered Rs 3 lakh allegedly paid to doctors to alter the blood sample of a teen driver involved in a fatal car crash in Kalyani Nagar on May 19, which resulted in the deaths of two motorbike-borne software engineers.

Doctors Arrested for Manipulating Blood Report

Earlier, two doctors from Pune's Sassoon Hospital, Dr. Ajay Taware, Head of the Forensic Medicine Department, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Srihari Halnor, were arrested for allegedly manipulating the blood report of the 17-year-old driver. The teenager had been taken to Sassoon Hospital for a medical check-up following the deadly crash involving a Porsche.

The arrested include Dr. Ajay Taware, Dr. Srihari Halnor, and Atul Ghatakmalbe, another hospital employee. All three have been remanded to police custody until May 30. According to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, the juvenile's blood sample was discarded and replaced with another person's sample.

The police are investigating the money exchanged and whose blood sample was used to replace the accused's sample. The defense lawyers have argued that the charges are bailable.

Following the arrests, the Maharashtra Medical Council issued notices to the doctors, requiring them to respond within seven days. If found guilty, their medical licenses could be suspended from one day to a lifetime.

The tampering was discovered when DNA tests showed the two blood samples were from different individuals. The initial Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report showed no alcohol in the minor's blood, but a subsequent report indicated otherwise, raising suspicions.

CCTV Evidence and Charges

CCTV footage from Sassoon Hospital has been seized. The doctors face charges of forgery and destruction of evidence under Sections 120 B, 467, and 201 of the IPC. The minor's father was in direct contact with Dr. Taware, and the Crime Branch is searching for the individual whose blood sample was used. They are also seeking custody of the juvenile's father, who is currently in judicial custody.

Teen in Observation Home Until June 5

The Pune Porsche crash case has been controversial from the start. The teenager was initially granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board and asked to write an essay on road accidents. However, following public outrage and a police review application, he was sent to an observation home until June 5.

The Agarwal family is facing various charges related to the accident that killed IT engineers Ashwini Koshtha and Aneesh Awadhiya. The teenager's father, realtor Vishal Agarwal, and grandfather, Surendra Agarwal, have also been arrested. Vishal was booked under the Juvenile Justice Act for "exposing a child to danger" by allowing him to drive without a license, while Surendra was arrested for the illegal confinement of the driver.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that an attempt was made to establish that the Porsche was not driven by the 17-year-old, with the family's driver initially taking responsibility. The investigation later confirmed that the juvenile was driving the car and was fully aware of the consequences, warranting charges under IPC Section 304 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Two police officers, including an inspector from Yerwada police station, have been suspended for delayed reporting and dereliction of duty in the case.