Following a tragic car accident in Pune that resulted in two fatalities, a local court has called on pub and bar operators to set limits on the amount of liquor served to patrons who drive themselves home. This directive was issued during a hearing concerning a luxury car accident involving a 17-year-old driver, which took place in the early hours of last Sunday.
The court has placed three individuals—the owner and two managers of different dining establishments—under police custody until May 24. These individuals are accused of serving alcohol to the underage boy and his friends without verifying his age.
During the court session, Additional Sessions Court Judge S P Ponkshe expressed deep concern over the accident’s deadly outcome. “If the person is highly drunk, make arrangements for his stay there. What should people walking on the road do? Those who have come to the pub would not go home walking. They will go driving their vehicles. A change has to be there somewhere,” she remarked.
Advocate S K Jain, defending the accused, argued against the need for police custody, citing that the relevant section of the Juvenile Justice Act is non-cognisable and asserting that the necessary investigation had already been completed. However, the prosecution countered this claim by insisting on the need for police custody to further investigate the circumstances of the case.
