The Supreme Court has granted bail to three individuals accused of swapping blood samples to protect minors involved in the high-profile Pune Porsche hit-and-run incident. Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood, and Amar Santhosh Gaikwad, who had been in custody for about 20 months, were ordered to be released by a Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, subject to trial court conditions. The trio allegedly tampered with blood samples of two minor passengers in the Porsche car, apart from the alleged minor driver, who were reportedly intoxicated during the fatal accident.
The accused face charges under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including forgery, evidence tampering, and bribery. The tragic incident took place on May 19, 2024, in Pune’s Kalyaninagar area, where a Porsche car, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old under the influence, struck down two IT professionals, Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, sparking national outrage. Mittal is associated with one of the minor’s fathers, while Sood is the father of the other minor occupant. Gaikwad is accused of receiving Rs three lakh as a middleman for swapping the juveniles’ blood samples.
Following the bail order, the Bench led by Justice Nagarathna made poignant remarks on parental responsibility, highlighting the incident as a reflection of broader societal issues. The court emphasized the need for accountability, especially on parents’ part, in ensuring responsible behavior among young drivers. The apex court refrained from detailed conclusions to avoid prejudicing the ongoing trial, despite expressing concerns over the tragic consequences of reckless behavior on the road.
