PuneAccident – Supreme Court Grants Bail to Key Accused
PuneAccident – The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the release on bail of one of the accused in the 2024 Pune luxury car crash case, citing parity with other co-accused who had already secured similar relief. The decision comes nearly 20 months after the accused was taken into custody.
Court Notes Similarity With Co-Accused
A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan observed that Ashpak Basha Makandar had been behind bars since his arrest and that three other individuals linked to the case had previously been granted bail. Taking note of this, the court ruled that Makandar’s case stood on similar footing.
According to submissions made by the senior counsel representing him, Makandar’s alleged role did not differ materially from that of the co-accused who had already been released. Accepting the argument, the bench granted bail in line with its earlier orders.
Background of the Pune Crash
The case stems from a tragic accident on May 19, 2024, in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area, where a Porsche car allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy struck and killed two IT professionals. Investigators claimed the minor was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
The incident triggered widespread public debate over road safety, juvenile accountability, and parental responsibility. Questions were also raised about how the case was handled in its early stages.
Allegations of Evidence Tampering
Makandar is accused of playing a role in an alleged conspiracy to manipulate medical records. Investigators claimed that blood samples belonging to the minors in the vehicle were replaced with samples from their guardians at a hospital in an attempt to influence alcohol test results.
The alleged tampering became a central focus of the investigation, widening the scope of the case beyond the accident itself. Several individuals, including medical professionals and family members of those involved, were subsequently arrested.
Earlier Bail Orders by the Apex Court
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had granted bail to three other accused: Amar Santish Gaikwad, described as an alleged intermediary, and Aditya Avinash Sood and Ashish Satish Mittal, who are the parents of two other minors present in the car during the crash.
The bench had noted at that time that the three had been in custody for approximately 18 months. While granting relief, the court also made remarks about the role of parents in incidents involving juveniles, stressing the importance of supervision and responsibility.
Prior to those orders, the court had sought responses from the Maharashtra government on separate bail petitions filed by the accused individuals in January.
High Court and Juvenile Proceedings
In December last year, the Bombay High Court had rejected bail applications filed by eight accused persons in the case, including Gaikwad, Sood and Mittal. However, subsequent appeals before the Supreme Court resulted in relief for some of them.
Meanwhile, the Juvenile Justice Board initially granted bail to the minor driver under certain conditions, including writing a 300-word essay on road safety. The decision drew strong public reaction, prompting Pune police to seek a review.
The board later revised its order and directed that the minor be placed in an observation home. In June, the high court ordered his release from the facility.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Apart from the juvenile, 10 individuals were sent to jail in connection with the alleged blood sample swapping. These include the minor’s parents, Vishal Agarwal and Shivani Agarwal, along with doctors Ajay Tawre and Shreehari Halnor, hospital staff member Atul Ghatkamble, and others linked to the case.
Legal proceedings are still underway, with courts continuing to examine evidence related to both the fatal crash and the alleged tampering of medical records. The case remains closely watched due to its broader implications for juvenile justice and accountability in high-profile road accident cases.