Pune:
In the latest twist in the Pune Porsche horror, two doctors have been arrested for allegedly manipulating the blood test report of the 17-year-old, whose late night drunk drive left two 24-year-old software engineers dead, sources have said.
Dr Ajay Tawre and Dr Shri Hari Harnor of Sasoon Hospital have been arrested by the Pune Crime Branch, which is investigating the case that has sparked nationwide outrage. Dr Tawre is head of the forensic lab at the state-run hospital in Pune.
Earlier, reports had claimed that the Pune teen, who is now at an observation home, had tested negative for alcohol. However, CCTV footage from one of the bars he visited that night showed him drinking with friends.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar earlier said, “This case is not about an accident in which a mistake happened under the influence of alcohol and people died. Our case is that he had full knowledge that his conduct… he parties in two bars, rashly drives a car without a number plate on a narrow, congested street. He was fully in his senses, and he knew that people may die because of his actions.”
The teen belongs to a prominent realtor’s family and it is alleged that his father and grandfather tried to influence the legal process to shield him. The teen’s father has been arrested under charges of the Juvenile Justice Act. His grandfather has also been arrested after the family’s driver alleged that he was confined at the family’s home, threatened and asked to take the blame for the accident. The other arrests in the case include staff of the two bars the teen visited that night. The doctors’ arrest and allegations of manipulation of blood samples further strengthens the charge that the family blatantly used money and influence to protect the teen.
Two engineers — Ashwini Kostha and Anish Awadhiya — were on the bike when the Porsche hit their bike from behind. They died on the spot. The boy was granted bail within 15 hours of the accident on conditions seen as flimsy. He was asked to write a 300-word essay on road accidents, told to work with traffic cops for 15 days and seek counselling for his drinking habit.
Amid nationwide outrage, the Juvenile Justice Board later modified the order and sent him to the observation home.
