In a significant ruling on Thursday, a local court denied bail to six individuals, including the parents of a teen driver involved in the fatal Porsche crash in Kalyani Nagar on May 19, which resulted in the deaths of two IT professionals. The accused are implicated in an alleged scheme to swap the teen’s blood samples to falsely establish that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Presiding over the case, Additional Sessions Judge U M Mudholkar rejected the bail applications of the 17-year-old’s parents, Vishal and Shivani Agarwal; two doctors from Sassoon General Hospital, Dr. Ajay Taware and Dr. Shreehari Halnor; and alleged middlemen Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad. The court highlighted concerns regarding potential tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice if bail were granted.
Judge Mudholkar’s order stressed the severity of the allegations, stating, “The immediate attempt to tamper with evidence before the victims’ blood could dry signifies a deliberate obstruction of justice, and granting bail could further jeopardize the integrity of ongoing legal proceedings.”
The court was particularly cautious about the influence the accused could exert over witnesses and the legal process. It noted that while the physical evidence might be secure with the investigative authorities, the accused could still manipulate witness testimonies, which are crucial for the case.
During the proceedings, the prosecution argued vehemently against bail, suggesting that the accused had already demonstrated a propensity to manipulate the judicial system. Senior Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray and advocate Sarthi Pansare presented concerns that releasing the accused could lead to further tampering with evidence and undue pressure on witnesses.
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The court also addressed an argument made by the Investigation Officer, ACP Ganesh Ingale, who compared the financial capabilities of the accused to those of fugitive businessmen like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya. However, Judge Mudholkar described this comparison as “fanciful” and dismissed it, though he acknowledged the financial influence the Agarwals could wield due to their status as prominent builders and developers in Pune.
