Pune: Three individuals accused of conspiring to swap blood samples in the 2024 Pune Porsche accident case, which resulted in two deaths, were granted bail by the Supreme Court of India on Monday.
A bench consisting of Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed the release of Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood, and Amar Santhosh Gaikwad, conditional upon terms to be determined by the trial court. The Bench observed that the accused had been in custody for approximately 18 months.
As per the prosecution, the accused conspired to replace the blood samples of two juveniles who were seated in the back of the car. It was alleged that juveniles were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. These accused allegedly substituted the juveniles’ samples with their own in an effort to tamper with critical evidence. The alleged minor driver was not part of this blood sample swap.
The accused face charges under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The charges include offences such as forgery, evidence tampering, and bribery.
Ashish Mittal is reported to be a friend of the father of one of the juveniles. Aditya Sood is the father of the other juvenile passenger seated in the rear of the vehicle. Amar Gaikwad allegedly functioned as a middleman and is accused of receiving Rs 3 lakh to facilitate the replacement of the blood samples.
During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna delivered strong observations regarding parental responsibility. She stated that parents must be held accountable for failing to exercise control over their children. She noted that reckless celebrations involving substance use, followed by high-speed driving, often result in the loss of innocent lives.
Highlighting societal concerns, Justice Nagarathna observed that parents often substitute meaningful dialogue and time spent with their children with money and unrestricted access to resources.
“Handing over vehicles and providing the means for unchecked indulgence is the real problem,” she said. She cautioned that any further comments should not prejudice the ongoing trial.