The minor's mother was detained; police investigate teenage girl in juvenile home in her presence

Pune, June 1: The mother of the minor involved in the Porsche car accident was arrested after it was confirmed that her blood samples were replaced with his, Pune police chief Amitesh Kumar said on Saturday.

As part of the investigation, the police also spoke to the minor for about an hour at the observation house, where he was sent until June 5, in the presence of his mother. An official, however, said that “they were not available during the investigation.”

The latest arrest comes two days after police told a local court that the 17-year-old's blood samples had been replaced with those of a woman.

“During investigation into other arrested accused, it was revealed that the minor's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother,” Pune police said in a statement.

The crime branch had earlier arrested Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department of Sassoon General Hospital, its superintendent doctor Dr Shrihari Halnor, and staff of Atul Ghatkamble Hospital for their alleged involvement in the episode of blood sample exchange.

Besides these three, the police arrested the minor's father Vishal Agarwal, mother and grandfather Surendra Agarwal under sections 304 of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 304 A (death by negligence), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence). offense), 120b (criminal conspiracy), 279 (reckless driving or driving on a public highway), 338 (causing serious injury by an act endangering life), 427 (mischief causing damage), 466, 467 (counterfeiting) and 471 (Using a false document as authentic).

The police also invoked sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (since some of the arrested accused are public servants) and the Motor Vehicles Act.

A senior crime branch official said the initial investigation into the exchange of blood samples included the whereabouts of the minor's mother, technical evidence, CCTV footage and statements of several people.

It was Dr. Taware who came up with the idea of ​​replacing the blood samples in order to destroy evidence of alcohol consumption by the minor, the official said.

The minor's father and mother conspired with Taware, Halnor and Ghatkamble to alter the blood samples and it was revealed that financial transactions took place between the accused for this purpose, the police statement said.

“We will be collecting blood samples from the minor's mother for DNA purposes as part of the sample swap investigation. We are also looking into whether she played any role in the kidnapping of the minor driver (in order to force him to take responsibility for the kidnapping of the driver (May 19 accident). We have also taken care of the minor's father, he and his wife will be presented in court on Sunday). responsible.

The police had on Friday filed an application for the custody of Vishal Agarwal in connection with the alleged exchange of blood samples.

The official said the investigation into the minor, who is in an observation house until June 5, was carried out in the presence of his mother.

“The investigation focused on certain points related to the accident, including the sequence of events, his presence in two restaurants and the blood sampling episode at Sassoon General Hospital. They were not revealed during of the investigation,” the official said.

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Friday authorized the police to investigate the teenager. Under the Juvenile Justice Act, the investigation of a minor must be conducted in the presence of the parents.

Asked about the alleged involvement of an MP in the matter, the official, without giving a direct answer, said action would be taken based on the evidence.

“Today, as the evidence against the minor's mother was strong, action (arrest) took place. Our aim is to make the case unshakeable,” the official said.

Two IT professionals were killed in the wee hours of May 19 in Pune's Kalyani Nagar after a Porsche, allegedly driven by the minor, who police said was drunk, rammed into their two-wheeler.

The minor's father, realtor Vishal Agarwal, and grandfather Surendra Agarwal were arrested for allegedly kidnapping the family's driver and pressuring him to take responsibility. They were remanded in police custody for 14 days on Friday after their police detention ended.

According to police, around a dozen calls were exchanged between Vishal Agarwal and Dr Ajay Taware while samples were being collected to test for alcohol consumption.

Dr Halnor and Ghatkamble received a total of Rs 3 lakh from Dr Taware to alter the blood samples, a senior police officer had earlier said.

The case sparked national outrage, especially as the JJB granted the teenager bail hours after the May 19 crash and required him to write a 300-word essay on the road safety.

Amid a national outcry, police again contacted the JJB, who changed the order and sent him to an observation house until June 5.

After bail was granted to the minor by a single member of the JJ board, the Maharashtra government set up a committee to probe the conduct of the state-appointed members of the JJB and check whether the standards were complied with while issuing orders in the Pune car accident case. .

The committee, headed by a deputy commissioner, will submit its report next week, Prashant Narnavare, commissioner of the Women and Child Development Department, had earlier said.

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