In the ongoing investigation into the Pune Porsche hit-and-run case, the prosecution has alleged that blood samples were not only tampered with for the 17-year-old accused but also for his two friends who were present with him during the incident. The alleged tampering occurred at the government-run Sassoon Hospital to falsely indicate that none of the three were under the influence of alcohol, as reported.
The sessions court, currently deliberating on the bail applications of six accused individuals in the Kalyani Nagar hit-and-run case, is examining the roles of the accused’s parents, Vishal and Shivani Agarwal, as well as middlemen Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad. The investigation also includes Dr. Ajay Taware and Dr. Shreehari Halnor from Sassoon Hospital.
The minor, who was involved in the incident, was released from an observation home following a high court order. However, his parents and the hospital doctors are still under scrutiny for allegedly replacing his blood samples to show he wasn’t intoxicated at the time of the crash.
The incident occurred on May 19, when the intoxicated minor allegedly killed two 24-year-old IT professionals who were riding a motorbike, after colliding with them in his Porsche in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area.
During the bail hearing, special prosecutor Shishir Hiray claimed that Dr. Halnor, despite his expertise in forensic medicine and awareness of legal consequences, deliberately replaced the blood samples of the minor and his two friends following the accident. Hiray further asserted that this act was orchestrated by the minor’s parents in collaboration with Dr. Taware, who reportedly received Rs. 2.5 lakh for his involvement.
In court, a trainee doctor testified that Shivani Agarwal’s blood was substituted for her son’s. Prosecutors also suggested a plan to replace the blood of the two friends with samples from their mothers, but this failed due to mismatched blood types and the fact that one mother had consumed alcohol.
Instead, blood samples from two other men were used as substitutes. The trainee doctors were instructed to avoid using alcohol-based solutions during sample collection to prevent contamination, according to the prosecutor.
The prosecution also presented the testimony of another resident doctor who claimed that Dr. Halnor entrusted him with Rs. 2.5 lakh in cash, explaining that the money came from Dr. Taware and requesting the doctor to store it due to a lack of secure storage in his hostel room.
An eyewitness at the scene of the crash reported that a crowd gathered and pulled the minor driver from his car, noting that he was unable to stand properly, suggesting intoxication. Despite this, Dr. Halnor’s preliminary medical report, issued just hours later, indicated no signs of alcohol consumption.
Prosecutor Hiray, with the assistance of advocate Sarthi Pansare, is expected to continue his arguments on Monday.
