Juvenile Justice Board Declines Plea to Try Pune Porsche Crash Accused as Adult

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Tuesday rejected a plea by Pune Police to try the 17-year-old accused in the high-profile Pune Porsche crash as an adult. The board ruled that the accused, a minor at the time of the incident, will be tried under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

The decision follows months of legal contention surrounding the May 19, 2024, accident in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar, which resulted in the deaths of two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, who were struck by a speeding Porsche while riding a motorcycle.

Authorities allege the teen was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, and the prosecution had argued that the severity and circumstances of the offence warranted his trial as an adult. The JJB, however, found that the case did not meet the necessary criteria for transferring the minor to be tried as an adult under Section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa, commenting on the development, acknowledged the intention behind Section 15, noting that it was introduced post-Nirbhaya to balance justice with rehabilitation for juveniles involved in heinous crimes. “The provision is well-meaning and grounded in the principle of reformation,” Pahwa stated. “However, its implementation has often been casual and inconsistent, and this needs urgent attention — either through judicial clarification or legislative reform.”

Pahwa further highlighted that the Act includes an appellate mechanism, which the Pune Police may now consider. “In many instances, proper psychological and social assessments are not carried out in accordance with the guidelines, leading to inconsistent outcomes. A more rigorous and standardized approach would help uphold the reformative spirit of the law,” he added.

The Pune Police’s application seeking to treat the accused as an adult had remained pending before the JJB for over a year. Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray previously expressed concerns over delays, alleging that the defence had repeatedly sought adjournments, hindering progress in the case. “The defence was not allowing the hearing to proceed as scheduled,” Hiray said.

With the JJB’s order now in place, the accused will face trial as a juvenile, though legal experts anticipate that the matter could progress to higher judicial forums if an appeal is filed.