Pune Porsche case: Minor’s detention extended till June 12

The 17-year-old’s confinement at the observation home was prolonged by the Juvenile Justice Board until June 12, which was previously until June 5.

The juvenile involved in the Porsche car accident on May 19 was placed under extended custody by the state prosecution on Tuesday (June 4). The prosecution cited the minor’s lack of care due to the arrests of his grandparents and parents.

The 17-year-old’s confinement at the observation home was prolonged by the JJB until June 12. Following the boy’s presentation before JJB on May 22, a detention order was issued, with a deadline of June 5. Sunil Tambe, Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime), requested before JJB to keep the teenager in the observation home for an additional fourteen days.

The criminal branch has taken custody of a child, causing special assistant public prosecutor Monali Kale to argue that the case is unfit for release due to the child’s conflict with the law (CCL). The CCL has been referred to psychological and de-addiction specialists, and if the assessments are unfavourable, JJB’s May 22 ruling may allow for an extension of the CCL’s stay in the observation house.

The minor boy’s lawyer, Prashant Patil, argued that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, Section 2 does not provide for extending the detention of a minor boy in an observation home. Further quoting a Supreme Court ruling, Patil submitted that section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code invoked in the car crash case cannot be termed as a heinous crime under the Juvenile Justice Act. Patil also argued that the prosecution’s plea for detention extension contradicts the JJB’s May 22 order. After hearing both sides, the custody has been extended by a week.

“The probe is at a critical stage, and the teen should not be released at this time. Further questioning will be conducted to clarify facts, and the release of his parents and grandfather may impact the CCL,” stated Shailesh Balkawade, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime).