Teenager from India accused of drunk driving leads to fatal accidents; authorized to pen an essay as a form of penance.
A 17-year-old male was believed to be driving a Porsche too quickly on a Sunday in Pune, which resulted in a collision with a motorcycle. This led to the deaths of two individuals, as stated by Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.
The teenager was apprehended and taken to the Juvenile Justice Board, where he was eventually set free on bail with 15 days of community service and asked to create a composition regarding road safety. Fadnavis expressed his discontent with this decision, claiming it to be shocking.
He pointed out the 2015 amendments to India's juvenile laws, which allow youths over 16 to be prosecuted as adults for horrific crimes. "This was a peculiar judgment passed by the Juvenile Justice Board," Fadnavis reflected.
Reportedly, the minor's attorney, Prashant Patil, revealed on Wednesday that the bail terms had been modified. The Juvenile Justice Board had ordered him to remain at a rehab facility until June 5 and to receive mandated counseling. CNN made attempts to reach Patil for more information.
Fadnavis also mentioned that Pune police were researching the case for potential culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Additionally, they requested the Juvenile Court review its initial bail order.
A CCTV video, allegedly shot a few moments before the collision, showed a white Porsche quickly driving on a busy main street. The footage didn't show the crash scene; it was widely shared on social media and aired frequently on local news stations.
Since the minor's father was arrested for permitting his underage son to drive in the first place, the legal driving age in India is 18. Furthermore, three individuals who provided alcohol to him were detained by the Pune police.
"We've taken the strictest approach possible, and we'll carry out whatever we can to ensure justice for the two tragically lost lives and ensure that the accused receives punishment," said Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
The accident has generated a significant response in the media and sparked considerable anger among the public. Suresh Koshta, the father of a daughter who perished in the collision, expressed disappointment that the teen was allowed to drive. "It was mistaken," he said, visibly upset. "You must learn how to drive first."
Rahul Gandhi, head of the Indian National Congress, questioned if the same leniency would be shown to other drivers, such as bus or taxi operators. "If a 16-17-year-old from a wealthy family, driving a Porsche while inebriated, is caught, he gets asked to write an essay," he said in a video post on X. "Why don't we ask bus drivers or truck drivers to write essays?"
This isn't the first time a court's verdict has stirred such controversy. In 2015, Bollywood icon Salman Khan, who was facing a lengthy prison term for a fatal hit-and-run incident, was granted leniency after the Bombay High Court overturned his conviction for insufficient evidence. This court decision generated outrage.
"The verdict was founded on the testimonies supplied by the prosecution, yet the court could not convict," the court said.
The hit-and-run accident took place near a Mumbai bakery in September 2002, with prosecutors alleging that Khan drove a vehicle into sleeping men, killing one and injuring the others. They claimed he was returning from a bar after a night of intoxication.
The actor insisted he was not the driver.
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The world is closely following the controversial case in India, with many questioning the leniency shown to the teen driver. Despite the fatal accidents and violation of the legal driving age, the global community is discussing the fairness of the minor's punishment.
The tragedy in India has sparked a global conversation about road safety and justice, with the world watching as India navigates its juvenile laws and judicial processes.
Source: edition.cnn.com
