Pune: The Maharashtra government has granted approval to initiate criminal proceedings against two senior doctors from Sassoon Hospital for their alleged role in tampering with evidence related to the high-profile Kalyani Nagar accident case.

Dr. Ajay Taware, who was the head of the forensic department, Dr. Shrihari Halnor, chief medical officer of the emergency department, and ward boy Atul Ghatkambale have been accused of manipulating blood samples taken from a minor driver and his two friends involved in a fatal car crash.

Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray submitted the government’s approval letter in the court of Special Judge U. M. Mudholkar on Thursday (October 24).

This development clears the way for framing charges and commencing the trial against all seven accused, including the Agarwal couple and the Sassoon Hospital doctors.

The case dates back to May 18, when a minor driving a Porsche at high speed crashed into a motorcycle in the Kalyani Nagar area, resulting in the deaths of two young people.

In the aftermath of the accident, it was revealed that blood samples of the minor driver, which were critical to the investigation, were tampered with before the medical examination, in an apparent attempt to destroy crucial evidence.

A 900-page chargesheet has been filed against real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, his wife Shivani Agarwal, and the hospital officials involved.

The charges include tampering with evidence and destroying critical proof that could have impacted the case against the minor driver.

The approval of prosecution by the state government marks a significant step forward in the investigation, and the court will now proceed with the framing of charges and a full trial.