Juvenile court sends teen to observation home following outcry over bail
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in Pune has decided to transfer the 17-year-old teen, accused of the Pune car crash in Kalyani Nagar to an observation home until June 5 after public outrage at his quick bail. In reaction to the controversy, the sessions court ordered the remand of the teenager`s father, a real estate developer, into police custody, reported PTI.
According to the report, while the police said that the juvenile justice board revoked the minor`s bond, in the Pune car crash, on Wednesday evening, the teenager`s lawyer explained that the bail was not terminated but rather adjusted. The decision on the police`s request to classify him as an adult accused is pending.
The JJB first granted bail to the accused of the Pune car crash just hours after the Porsche he allegedly drove collided fatally with two IT professionals riding motorbike. The judgement was heavily criticised, causing the police to request a reconsideration of the ruling, the PTI reported.
“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,” said police commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
Advocate Prashant Patil, who represents the juvenile, revealed that the youngster has been placed in an observation house following the JJB`s decision.
Advocate Prashant Patil, who represented the juvenile at the JJB hearing, said, “It is a modification of the earlier order….Cancellation of bail means setting aside the earlier order and taking the person in custody. Here, it is not a custody. It is a rehab home.”
Meanwhile, police have filed a FIR against the accused in the Pune car crash case under several sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act, claiming he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
The sessions court has also remanded the teenager`s father and two staff of Hotel Black Club, where the minor allegedly drank alcohol before to the incident, in police custody, the report added.
According to the report, a political debate over the accident persisted, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for politicising the situation. Fadnavis stated that the police had acted appropriately in the circumstances.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve questioned Fadnavis` visit to Pune, claiming it was intended to protect investigative agencies, while Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar slammed the police for focusing on the victims` relationships rather than the accused`s conduct, the report added.
The victims, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24-year-old Madhya Pradesh residents, died in the Pune car crash, provoking intense controversy and scrutiny of the case`s treatment.
The JJB`s contentious bail decision required the adolescent to submit a 300-word essay on traffic accidents and their solutions, which fueled public outrage and social media discussion.