Bombay High Court: In a significant development in the Pune Porsche Accident case, the Division Bench of Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande, JJ., on 25-06-2024 allowed a habeas corpus petition filed by the paternal aunt of the minor accused against the order of the Juvenile Justice Board (“JJB”), remanding the minor to an observation home, and cancelling his earlier bail order.
The JJB had earlier granted bail to the minor on the following conditions:
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A bail bond of Rs. 7500;
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A 300-worded essay on ‘Effect of Road Accident and their Solutions’;
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Assistance to an RTO Officer;
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Undergo de-addiction counselling;
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Consult psychologist and psychiatrist;
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Direction to parents to take care of the minor and keep him away from bad company.
The 17-year-old accused minor is the son of a Pune-based builder, who was driving a Porsche car at high speed, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, and having lost control over the vehicle, crashed into two persons riding on a motorcycle, resulting in their death. The minor was charged under various provisions of the Penal Code, 1860 (“IPC”), including Sections 279, 304-A, 337 and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The Court questioned the remand to observation home once bail had been granted to the minor and declared the impugned JJB order illegal. However, it directed the continuation of the JJB-ordered psychological counselling sessions post release.
Source: Press
