Pune Porsche Crash: Bombay HC Orders Release Of Teen Accused

Mumbai: In a significant ruling on Tuesday, the Bombay High Court ordered the immediate release of the 17-year-old boy implicated in the fatal Porsche accident in Pune. The incident, which occurred on May 19, resulted in the deaths of two tech professionals. The boy, allegedly driving under the influence, was initially placed in an observation home in Pune.

A division bench comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande annulled the Juvenile Justice Board’s (JJB) earlier orders that had remanded the minor to custody. The court stressed the illegality and lack of jurisdiction in the JJB’s decision, highlighting that the minor’s age was not properly considered amid the public outcry following the accident.

“We order the release of the Child in Conflict with Law (CCL), placing him under the care and custody of his paternal aunt,” the bench declared. The court stressed the importance of treating minors differently under the Juvenile Justice Act, irrespective of the crime’s severity, and noted the boy’s ongoing rehabilitation, including psychological support.

The 17-year-old’s paternal aunt had filed a plea challenging the legality of his detention and sought his release. Initially, the boy was granted bail by the JJB on the day of the accident, under the supervision of his parents and grandfather. However, following a police application, the JJB reversed its decision on May 22, placing the boy in an observation home.