In a dramatic turn in the high-profile Pune crash case, the 17-year-old boy accused of driving the Porsche that collided with a motorbike, resulting in two fatalities, claimed that his family driver was behind the wheel at the time of the accident. This claim is supported by the minor’s two friends who were present during the incident, according to India Today.
Driver's statement and family's claims
On Thursday, Pune Police questioned the accused teenager’s friend and the family driver, who were both in the car during the fatal accident. Initially, the driver stated that he was driving when the crash occurred. The minor's father also asserted that the family driver was operating the vehicle on that fateful night.
Police investigation and grandfather's involvement
Pune Police have expanded their investigation to include the grandfather of the accused teen. They are probing an offence registered against the juvenile's father, several staff members, and the owners of two liquor-serving establishments in the Mundhwa area. The grandfather was questioned alongside his son to corroborate details.
Juvenile justice and legal proceedings
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) remanded the teenager to an observation home on Wednesday, following public outcry over his swift bail. During his time there, the juvenile will undergo psychological assessments. The police have filed an FIR against him under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 304A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving), and relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Grandfather’s alleged underworld connections
Reports have surfaced suggesting the teenager’s grandfather has connections to the underworld. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charged him with hiring a hitman from Chhota Rajan’s gang to murder Shiv Sena corporator Ajay Bhosale in 2009. The CBI alleges that the grandfather contracted Rajan to execute Bhosale’s murder after a failed mediation over a property dispute.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Bhosale stated, “In 2009, Chhota Rajan contacted me to mediate in a property dispute between the teen’s grandfather and his brother. When I refused, the builder contracted Rajan, leading to the attack on me on October 11, 2009.”
Also read | Pune porsche car crash: Police question grandfather of minor accused
