Pune Porsche case: Juvenile Justice Board rejects State's plea to try teen accused as adult

A Juvenile Justice Board on Tuesday rejected the State’s application to try the 17-year-old accused in the Pune Porsche crash case as an adult..A detailed copy of the order is awaited.Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray confirmed the development to Bar & Bench and said, “Unfortunately, the law position about what is to be called a heinous offence is in favour of the Child in Conflict with the Law (CCL) in this matter.”.The incident took place at around 2:30 AM on May 19, 2024, when a Porsche car, allegedly driven by the minor in an inebriated state, rammed into a motorcycle in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area.Two software engineers - Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both aged 24 and hailing from Madhya Pradesh - were killed in the crash.A first information report (FIR) was registered the same day at the Yerwada Police Station. Pune City Police subsequently moved the Juvenile Justice Board on May 21 and 22, seeking permission to try the minor as an adult under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015..The prosecution contended that the act amounted to a heinous offense and that the minor had consumed alcohol prior to driving, despite being aware of the potential consequences.The defence opposed the application, arguing that the offence in question did not meet the statutory definition of heinous under the Act.Amid public outrage following the crash, the minor was placed in an observation home on May 22. His paternal aunt later approached the Bombay High Court seeking his release, stating that continued detention could hinder the child’s rehabilitation and was contrary to the intent of the juvenile justice framework.On June 25, the High Court directed that the minor be released and handed over to the custody of his aunt. He was subsequently released from the observation home..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.