Pune luxury car accident: Accused teen's blood sample may have been replaced with his mother's at Pune hospital

The recent luxury car crash that left two young IT professionals dead has taken a surprising new turn after it emerged that the blood sample of the accused 17-year-old may have been was replaced with that of his mother by the doctors at the center. the city's Sassoon General Hospital.

According to government and police sources, the blood samples of two other occupants of the car at the time of the May 19 accident were also replaced at the hospital with blood samples of their relatives in order to obtain the drunk teenagers (including the accused aged 17). driver of one year) unhooked.

Pune police sources said Shrihari Halnor, the senior doctor who was later arrested and suspended for tampering with the blood sample of the accused teenager who was driving the car, allegedly took a sample from the boy's mother, Shivani Agarwal, who was present at the hospital and threw the minor's sample in the trash.

Sources said the three-member committee appointed by the state Medical Education Department to probe the handling of the young driver's blood sample had found that the blood samples of a woman and two men had been swabbed at the hospital that day.

Three hanging

Dr Halnor was recently arrested along with Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department at the hospital run by Sassoon, and staff member Atul Ghatkamble, for tampering with blood samples in exchange for money to show that the teenager was not intoxicated. A court on Thursday extended their custody until June 5.

While the two doctors and staff were suspended, Sassoon Hospital dean Vinayak Kale was sent on forced leave after the three-member panel cited his “negligent” handling of the case.

Dr Kale, in a press conference on Wednesday hours before his ouster, had claimed that Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif and MP Sunil Tingre (both members of the ruling NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar) had recommended that Dr Taware become the head of the forensic medicine department at Sassoon Hospital, hinting at political influence behind the appointment given Dr Taware's checkered past.

Responding to Dr Kale's 'allegations', Mr Mushrif, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said Dr Taware had already been removed from his post in April itself and that he had committed the act (of manipulating blood samples) while he was on official mission. “long leave”.

While admitting that Mr. Tingre, MP from Vadgaon Sheri, had given him a letter recommending the appointment of Dr. Taware as medical superintendent, Mr. Mushrif clarified that after the recent high-profile incident of a patient dying of rat bite in the intensive care unit, Dr. Taware had been discharged.

“After the rat bite incident, Taware was dismissed from his post in April this year and was sent on long-term leave. He called Dr Halnor on the night of the accident and asked him to exchange the blood samples for a cash sum of ₹3 lakh with the family of the accused teenager. We have arrested the two doctors and sent the dean on compulsory leave,” Mr Mushrif said.

The minister said to overhaul the system, there was a need for a stern dean at Sassoon Hospital.

“According to the report of the three-member committee, Dr Kale did not discharge his duties properly. The committee submitted a report saying that Dr Kale was negligent and failed to take necessary precautions in this matter… A very wrong message will be sent to the public if we allow such things to continue,” said M . Mushrif.