The families of the victims in the high-profile Pune Porsche hit-and-run case have expressed deep disappointment after the Supreme Court granted bail to three accused involved in the case. One of the victims, Anish Avadhia’s relatives, raised concerns over the alleged conspiracy to tamper with blood samples to protect the minor accused.
Atmaram Avadhia, grandfather of Anish Avadhia and a resident of Umaria district in Madhya Pradesh, stated that investigations revealed the father of the minor driving the car had paid a bribe to alter the blood samples to shield the minors involved.
“We are very disappointed with today’s decision. We will appeal to the Supreme Court to cancel the bail granted to the accused,” said Atmaram Avadhia.
He further alleged that since the minor accused is the son of a real estate businessman, political leaders and senior officials are allegedly conspiring to weaken the case.
Anish’s father, Om Avadhia, also voiced his dismay, stating that they had expected justice from the country’s highest court, but granting bail to the three accused is disheartening.
“We hoped for justice, but it seems unlikely now. There is political pressure and money involved in this case, so bail should not have been granted,” he added.
On Monday, the Supreme Court granted bail to Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood, and Amar Santosh Gaikwad, who were accused of conspiring to tamper with the blood samples of two minors present in the Porsche car at the time of the accident. The court noted that the accused have been in custody for nearly 20 months and ordered their release on trial court conditions.
Mittal is said to be a friend of the father of the main accused minor, while Sood is the father of one of the minors seated in the rear seat during the incident. Gaikwad is alleged to have acted as an intermediary and received Rs 3 lakh to facilitate the blood sample alteration.
The incident dates back to 19 May 2024, when a speeding Porsche car without a number plate hit a two-wheeler in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area, resulting in the deaths of Anish Avadhia and Ashwini Costa, both software engineers returning from work. Ashwini Costa hailed from Jabalpur district in Madhya Pradesh.
Investigations revealed that the car was driven by a 17-year-old minor under the influence of alcohol, accompanied by two other minor friends and a driver. Police reports confirmed that the minor had consumed alcohol at two different hotels prior to the accident.
Further inquiry uncovered that the minor’s blood sample was replaced to hide the presence of alcohol. According to the investigation agencies, doctors at Pune’s Sassoon Hospital discarded the minor’s blood sample and substituted it with a sample from the minor’s mother.
The alleged conspiracy involved the minor’s father, Pune-based businessman Vishal Agrawal, his wife, and others. The prosecution stated that hospital staff were paid Rs 3 lakh through middlemen, and senior medical officials facilitated the manipulation to ensure the report did not show alcohol in the minor’s system.
This case continues to draw attention due to its serious allegations of tampering and the involvement of influential individuals, raising questions about justice and accountability.