Outrage in India as Teen Causes Fatal Accident While Driving Under the Influence

Many in India are upset after a teenager who caused a fatal accident while driving drunk was given a lenient punishment of writing an essay. People are calling for a stricter penalty and criticizing the court for being too soft.

The 17-year-old boy was driving a Porsche in Pune when he crashed into a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Maharashtra state's deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the tragic incident.

The minor was taken into custody and later presented to the Juvenile Justice Board. He was released on bail and given 15 days of community service. Additionally, he was required to write an essay about road safety, as mentioned by Fadnavis.

“The outrage continued to grow following this incident. Police stated that the boy is 17 years and 8 months old, categorizing this as a heinous crime,” Fadnavis informed reporters on Tuesday. He highlighted the 2015 amendments to India's juvenile laws, which now permit individuals above 16 to be tried as adults if they are involved in a "heinous" offense.

“This was a surprising order passed (by the Juvenile Justice Board),” Fadnavis said.

CNN has attempted to contact the alleged driver’s lawyer, Prashant Patil, for comment.

Pune police are currently investigating the minor for alleged culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as mentioned by Fadnavis. Additionally, they have requested the Juvenile Court to reconsider its decision on the bail order.

A CCTV video, believed to have been captured just before the accident, depicts a white Porsche racing down a crowded main street. The footage does not show the actual crash itself, but it does show individuals quickly moving towards the site of the collision. This video has been widely circulated on social media and featured on local news channels.

The father of the minor was arrested by Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar for allegedly letting his son drive even though he is underage. In India, the legal age for driving is 18.

Additionally, three individuals who provided the minor with alcohol were also taken into custody, as stated by Kumar.

"We are committed to taking the strictest measures possible to ensure that justice is served for the two young lives lost and that the accused faces appropriate punishment," he stated.

The incident has garnered significant attention in India, provoking outrage among the public. Many have expressed their disapproval of the boy's bail terms on social media.

Suresh Koshta, whose 24-year-old daughter was killed in the crash, expressed his frustration and grief over the incident. He called for stricter measures to be taken against the driver responsible.

Speaking to reporters outside his home, Koshta emphasized the importance of knowing how to drive before getting behind the wheel. He tearfully stated, "It was wrong to allow the minor to drive."

Rahul Gandhi, who leads India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, raised a question about the fairness of punishment for different drivers.

In a video shared on X, Gandhi pointed out a double standard where a wealthy teenager driving a Porsche under the influence is simply asked to write an essay, while bus or truck drivers facing similar charges are not given the same opportunity.

It's not uncommon for a court's decision to come under scrutiny.

Back in 2015, popular Bollywood actor Salman Khan was saved from a long prison term after the Bombay High Court overturned his conviction in a fatal hit-and-run case due to insufficient evidence. This decision sparked widespread controversy and anger.

The court stated that the appellant cannot be convicted based on the evidence presented by the prosecution, regardless of what the average person may believe.

The hit-and-run incident occurred outside a bakery in Mumbai in September 2002. Prosecutors claimed that Khan struck five men who were sleeping after losing control of his vehicle. They alleged that he had been drinking at a bar before the incident.

The actor said he wasn’t the driver.

One of the victims was killed; the others injured.

Editor's P/S:

The incident