Pune porsche car crash: Police question grandfather of minor accused

Image Source : PTI The Porsche car, without a number plate, was allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy at the time of an accident

A day after the Juvenile Justice Board remanded the teen, accused in the Pune Porsche car accident, to a rehabilitation home (observation centre) until June 5, the Pune Police on Thursday questioned the grandfather of the accused in connection with the offence.

The boy's grandfather was summoned by the police concerning an offence registered against the juvenile's father, staff members, and the owner of two liquor-serving establishments in the Mundhwa area, a crime branch official said.

"The minor's grandfather is currently being grilled by the sleuths of the crime branch at the Pune police commissionerate," he added.

Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that the 17-year-old was earlier granted bail on a surety of Rs 7,500 and an assurance from his grandfather to keep him away from bad company.

"His grandfather has given an assurance that he will keep the Child-in-Conflict with Law (CCL) away from any bad company and that he will concentrate on his studies or any vocational course useful for his career. He is ready to abide by the conditions imposed on him. Therefore, it is just and proper to release the CCL on bail," said the order passed by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Sunday.

However, after the furore over the board's decision, the accused's bail has been cancelled and he has since been sent to the observation centre.

Moreover, in an update on the case, the police have so far arrested the teen boy's father under sections 75 and 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act for failing to carry out his duties as a guardian. Additionally, two employees and the owner of two liquor-serving establishments—Cosie Restaurant and Hotel Blak Club in Mundhwa—have been arrested for allegedly serving alcohol to the underage boy.

Accused's Grandfather Gave 'Supari' to Chhota Rajan to Kill Me: Ex-Sena Corporator

Amid the political and legal developments in the car accident case, an ex-Shiv Sena (then undivided) corporator has accused the grandfather of the teenager of having links with the underworld, claiming that he had given a "supari" (contract) to a gangster to eliminate him 15 years ago.

Ajay Bhosale, who was Shiv Sena's candidate from the Wadgaon Sheri assembly constituency in 2009, had alleged that the grandfather of the accused was the main culprit behind a deadly attack against him. While Bhosale, who was then campaigning in Koregaon Park, escaped unhurt, his driver Shakil Sayyad was injured by a bullet during the deadly attack.

Significantly, the Bhosale's case is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has named the grandfather of the car crash accused as accused number 6 in the case, while gangster Chhota Rajan, currently in jail, is accused number 3. There are a total of seven accused named in the case of the attack on Bhosale.

As per a court order in the case, there was a dispute over property between accused number 6 (grandfather of the juvenile) and his brother. The accused sought the help of Vijay Salvi, one of the accused in the case and an alleged henchman of Chhota Rajan, to persuade his brother to hand over his share of the property.

Speaking to a Marathi channel, Bhosale claimed, "I was contesting the 2009 assembly election from the Wadgaon Sheri constituency on Shiv Sena's ticket. I had friendly relations with the brother of the juvenile's grandfather. He called Chhota Rajan and told him that I (Bhosale) was his brother's close friend and supported him, and gave my 'supari' (contract) to Chhota Rajan to eliminate me."

"He should have been arrested, but he has not been held so far," he added.