Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, expressed astonishment at the leniency shown by the Juvenile Justice Board regarding the Pune car crash involving a minor boy, who fatally struck two motorbike-borne IT professionals with his speeding luxury vehicle.
In response to the outrage over the incident, Fadnavis, who oversees the home portfolio, conducted a surprise visit to the Pune Police commissionerate office to assess the case.
Following a meeting with Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and other officials, Fadnavis revealed that the police had appealed to a higher court to try the juvenile, who was granted bail, as an adult.
After the crash, the accused teenager was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board, which also instructed him to visit the Regional Transport Office, study traffic rules, and deliver a presentation on road accidents and their solutions within 15 days.
Fadnavis criticized the board's leniency, stating that it was shocking and surprising given the severity of the crime. He highlighted that despite the police's petition to treat the teenager as an adult, the board released him on bail, sparking public outrage.
The higher court has instructed the police to seek a review of the board's decision. If the order is not revised, the police will escalate the matter to the higher court, Fadnavis added.
The incident occurred when the accused juvenile and his friends allegedly consumed alcohol at two hotels before the crash, as per police reports. CCTV footage from one of the hotels reportedly shows the teenager consuming alcohol.
The two IT professionals killed in the crash, identified as Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, were both 24 years old and hailed from Madhya Pradesh.