Pune: In a recent hearing related to the Kalyani Nagar accident case, the police faced tough questions from the court regarding their investigation, but were unable to provide satisfactory answers.
The case involves the recent arrest of Aditya Avinash Sood (52) and Ashish Satish Mittal (37), who have been implicated in conspiring with previously arrested individuals to tamper with the blood samples of underage children involved in the accident.
Both accused have been remanded to judicial custody in Yerawada Jail after their police custody expired on Monday (August 26).
Assistant Commissioner of Police Satish Govekar requested an extension of five days of police custody for the accused, arguing that further investigation was necessary to determine if financial transactions in the form of bribes had been made to alter blood samples.
However, Sessions Judge B.P. Kshirsagar raised concerns over the adequacy of the investigation conducted so far.
Judge Kshirsagar questioned the police on several aspects of the case, including what was uncovered during the six days of police custody, the motive behind the crime—whether it was to protect the underage driver or the children in the back seat—and the rationale behind certain investigative actions, such as the taking of fingerprints from friends. The police were unable to provide complete answers to these questions.
The court emphasized that it is crucial for the police to clearly present the details of the crime, the progress of the investigation, and the future course of action. The judge insisted that no accused should be held in custody without substantial reasons.
Public Prosecutor Rajendra Kumbhar, argued that after the crime, the accused attempted to destroy evidence, tampered with government documents, and engaged in illegal financial transactions to protect the underage driver during the judicial process.
The prosecution further claimed that more suspects are likely involved and that further investigation is needed. Despite the prosecution's request for an extension of police custody, the court ordered that the accused be sent to judicial custody.
The defense lawyers, Advocate Abid Mulani, Advocate Seol Shah, Advocate Dhvani Shah, and Advocate R.V. Katore, opposed the prosecution's request for further custody. Advocate Mulani indicated that a bail application would be filed on Wednesday (August 28).
