In the bustling city of Pune, a grim accident involving a minor took a significant turn, triggering a cascade of arrests and a political maelstrom. It all began with a tragic incident involving a 17-year-old boy, the son of a prominent real estate developer, Vishal Agarwal. The incident occurred in the early hours of a Sunday (May 20) morning, leading to a series of events that would stir both public outrage and intense scrutiny of the authorities involved.
On May 21, the Pune Police, under Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, arrested Vishal Agarwal in Sambhajinagar, formerly known as Aurangabad. Agarwal had been on the run since the tragic accident that resulted in the deaths of two young individuals, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa, both in their mid-20s. The teenagers were struck by a speeding, unregistered Porsche driven by Agarwal’s son. The car, a grey luxury vehicle, had been a recent purchase, made just two months prior in March.
The arrest of Vishal Agarwal was not the only development. Alongside him, the police apprehended four other individuals, including the owners and managers of two upscale pubs, BLAK at the Marriott Suites and Cosie. These establishments were implicated for serving alcohol to the minor on the night of the accident, a violation of both the Motor Vehicles Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015.
The sequence of events leading up to the arrests began with the accident itself. The minor, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, had been driving at high speed when he collided with the motorbike carrying Awadhiya and Costa. The impact was devastating, and both riders were killed instantly.
Following the crash, a case was registered under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, alongside relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Initially, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) released the minor on bail with conditions that many found outrageously lenient. The boy was asked to write a 300-word essay on road accidents, seek help to curb his drinking habits and engage in voluntary work with the Pune traffic police. These conditions, deemed insufficient given the severity of the incident, sparked widespread anger and accusations of preferential treatment.
Commissioner Kumar expressed the police’s frustration with the JJB’s decision and emphasised their intent to pursue the case rigorously. He announced that the police had submitted an application to try the teenager as an adult due to the gravity of his actions, although this request was initially denied by the JJB. The police then escalated the matter to the sessions court, determined to seek justice for the victims.
The political ramifications of the case were swift and intense.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance in Maharashtra, accused the police and an MLA from the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction, led by Ajit Pawar, of shielding the accused minor.
Vijay Wadettiwar, a prominent Congressman and Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra State Assembly called for a judicial inquiry, questioning the integrity of the investigation and the apparent delays in applying stringent charges.
Wadettiwar’s concerns were echoed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who cast doubt on the police’s actions and called for the sacking of Commissioner Kumar. Raut alleged that the minor had received special treatment while in police custody, including being served pizzas and burgers, and accused the police of attempting to downplay the severity of the crime.
In response, Commissioner Kumar defended the police’s actions, asserting that they had handled the case with the utmost professionalism and had opposed the JJB’s bail decision from the outset. He refuted allegations of laxity, stating that the police had taken every possible step to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. Kumar highlighted that the minor’s alcohol consumption was clearly evidenced by CCTV footage and online payment records from the night of the incident.
As the case progressed, further scrutiny was directed at the pubs that had served alcohol to the minor. The police, armed with CCTV footage, confirmed that the boy and his friends had been drinking at BLAK and Cosie. The footage, coupled with online payment records, provided irrefutable evidence of the establishments’ violations, leading to the arrests of their proprietors and managers.
The fallout from the incident extended beyond legal and political circles, igniting a broader debate about the culture of impunity and the enforcement of laws pertaining to underage drinking and unregistered vehicles. Residents of Pune, particularly those in the upmarket Kalyani Nagar area where the accident occurred, expressed their frustration with the apparent disregard for traffic laws and the perceived influence of wealth and connections in evading justice.
Public protests ensued, led by local Congress leaders and citizens who demanded accountability and stricter enforcement of laws. The protestors, including Kasba Peth MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and Mohan Joshi, gathered outside the Yerwada police station, criticising the police for their handling of the case and alleging corruption and bribery.
In a post on the micro-blogging site X, Wadettiwar highlighted the broader implications of the case, questioning how an unregistered luxury car could be driven on Pune’s roads and why establishments were permitted to serve alcohol to minors. He called for a comprehensive review of the regulatory framework governing pubs and vehicle registration, underscoring the need for systemic changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The tragic accident and its aftermath revealed deep-seated issues within the legal and regulatory systems, prompting calls for reform and greater accountability. The case served as a stark reminder of the consequences of negligence and the importance of upholding the rule of law, regardless of social status or wealth.
As Vishal Agarwal and the other accused awaited their day in court, the city of Pune grappled with the aftermath of the tragedy, reflecting on the lives lost and the urgent need for justice. The case continued to unfold, with the police, legal system, and public opinion converging in a complex web of accountability, justice, and the quest for reform.
