Pune Porsche accident: A 17-year-old boy allegedly involved in a fatal car accident in Pune has been shifted to an observation home, following a directive from the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), according to an official from the facility on Thursday. The observation home, which houses more than 30 minors, also served as the venue for a hearing on the police's review petition concerning the teenager's case on Wednesday.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning in Pune's Kalyani Nagar, where a Porsche, allegedly driven by the teenager, hit and killed two motorbike-riding software engineers. The teenager, the son of 50-year-old real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, was initially granted bail by the JJB shortly after being presented. Subsequently, the police petitioned the JJB for a review of its bail decision. Following an outcry over quick bail, the JJB on Wednesday remanded the boy to the observation home till June 5.
Boy sent to Nehru Udyog Kendra observation home
"The Child-in-Conflict with Law (CCL) was immediately sent to the Nehru Udyog Kendra observation home, located at Yerawada, where he is staying with the other CCLs," the official from the facility said. A senior police official said during his stay at the observation home, the juvenile will undergo psychological assessments. According to advocate Prashant Patil, who represented the teenager at the JJB hearing, the process of deciding whether a juvenile should be treated as an adult accused can take at least two months as reports of psychiatrists and counsellors among others are called for, and then the JJB gives its decision.
Patil said during the remand, the CCL will be kept at the rehabilitation home, with specific parameters set for this period. "The board has given directions regarding providing a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a counsellor for the CCL to support his mental health and help reintegrate him into the mainstream," he said.
While the police said the JJB on Wednesday evening cancelled the bail granted to the minor three days ago, his lawyer claimed there was no cancellation of bail. There was no order yet on the police's application seeking permission to treat him as an adult accused. "As per the operative order issued by the JJ Board, it has sent the minor to the observation home till June 5. The order on our plea to allow police to treat him as an adult (accused) has not been received yet," Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said.
Case registered
It should be noted here that the police had registered a case against the teenager's father under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 75 deals with "willful neglect of a child, or exposing a child to mental or physical illnesses," while section 77 deals with supplying a child with intoxicating liquor or drugs. A case has been registered against the boy under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder ) of the IPC and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
(With inputs from PTI)
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