Pune Porsche crash: 2 cops suspended for not following norms

The Porsche that killed two people in Pune

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Friday said that Police Inspector (PI) Rahul Jagdale and Assistant Police Inspector (API), Vishwanath Todkari, posted at Yerwada police station, have been suspended as they did not inform the wireless control room about the accident in which two people were killed when a speeding Porsche car hit them from behind on 19 May. The accident case was registered at the Yerwada police station following the car crash in Kalyani Nagar area of the city.

The investigation of a car accident in Kalyani Nagar involving a 17-year-old youngster was transferred to the crime branch from the Yerawada police station on Friday evening.Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar told PTI that the investigation was transferred to the crime branch to bring a coordinated approach.

The crime branch was already investigating the offence registered against the father of the juvenile and owner and staffers of two liquor serving establishments (which the teenager had allegedly visited before the accident), he noted.

Inspector Rahul Jagdale and assistant police inspector Vishwanath Todkari were suspended for "late reporting" and "dereliction of duty", said additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil.

Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar had said earlier in the day that internal inquiry pointed to lapses on the part of police officials while registering the case.

The city police chief told reporters an internal inquiry has pointed to lapses on the part of some cops while registering the case and action will be taken against them for destruction of evidence. He rejected allegations of "preferential" treatment to the juvenile inside the police station.

During our investigation, it has clearly emerged that the juvenile was driving the car and we have already collected all the necessary chronological evidence. For example, when the juvenile left the house, the entry on the security register shows that he left with the car, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said.

On the basis of technical and CCTV evidence, it is confirmed that the car was being driven by the juvenile, the police chief said. Eyewitnesses have also corroborated that the teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, was driving the Porsche at the time of the accident, he said.

Kumar said attempts were made to show that an adult, the family driver, was at the wheel and not the teen when the vehicle fatally knocked down two persons in the city's Kalyani Nagar area around 3 am on Sunday. We are investigating these things and will take action against those who made such attempts, under section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC, he said.

Asked about blood samples, Kumar said the juvenile was sent to Sassoon Hospital around 9 am on Sunday after an offence was registered. There was a delay in taking blood samples as they were collected at 11 pm but the blood report is not the pillar of our case, he said.

Evidence from all corners is being collected to make it a watertight case. An ACP-level officer is being entrusted with the probe to ascertain if there was any attempt to tamper with or destroy evidence. He also said special counsels will be appointed to aggressively put forth the police side in court.

Kumar responded to complaints about lapses and allegations that some cops were managed, saying the police have taken a stringent approach from the beginning. The police have also arrested the teenager's father.

*With Agency Inputs