PUNE: Blood samples of a 17-year-old minor involved in the Kalyani Nagar Porsche crash, as well as those of his two friends, were allegedly replaced at Sassoon Hospital in Pune to show they were not drunk at the time of the accident.
The prosecution presented these allegations during the bail hearings for the minor’s parents on Thursday, two doctors from the hospital, and two alleged middlemen.The crash, which occurred in the early hours of May 19, led to the deaths of two IT professionals.
The sessions court is reviewing bail applications for six accused individuals: Vishal Agarwal and Shivani Agarwal (the minor’s parents), Dr. Ajay Taware and Dr. Shreehari Halnor from Sassoon Hospital, and alleged middlemen Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad. The minor driver has been released from the observation home following a High Court order.
Special prosecutor Shishir Hiray argued that Dr. Shreehari Halnor, a knowledgeable forensic medicine professional, swapped the blood samples of the minor and his friends with those of others upon instructions from the Agarwals and Dr. Taware. Hiray stated that Dr. Halnor received Rs 2.5 lakh for this act. The prosecutor detailed that hours after the accident, the blood samples were replaced.
“A man and a woman, both 24 years old and IT professionals, were killed when the Porsche allegedly driven by the Agarwals’ son hit their motorbike in the early hours of May 19.”
Hiray cited the statement of a trainee (resident) doctor who was instructed to collect blood samples of Shivani Agarwal, while the minor’s blood samples were substituted with his mother’s. The prosecutor added that there were plans to use the blood samples of the mothers of the two friends similarly.
“In the case of his two friends, the plan was to use the blood samples of their respective mothers as a substitute in the same way,” said Hiray. “But it could not be done, because in one case the son and mother did not share the blood group while the other boy’s mother said she had consumed 30 ml of alcohol herself.”
As these initial substitutions failed, samples from two other men were used as replacements for the two friends’ blood samples. Trainee doctors were instructed to avoid alcohol contamination by using dry cotton instead of alcohol-soaked cotton. According to Hiray, Dr. Halnor personally prepared the notes instead of delegating the task to a subordinate.
“Dr. Halnor did not allow any subordinate to prepare the notes but did it himself.”
The prosecutor referenced another statement from a resident doctor who claimed Dr. Halnor handed over the Rs 2.5 lakh in cash he had received.
“Dr. Halnor came to his hostel at B J Medical College on May 23 and told him he had received some money through Dr. Taware, and since he had no cupboard in his hostel room, requested him to keep it in his cupboard. When the friend asked him what did he receive the money for, Dr. Halnor said he will explain it later and he had done nothing wrong,” advocate Hiray reported.
According to an eye-witness at the accident site, the minor driver was heavily inebriated and could not stand properly after the crash. However, the preliminary medical report, prepared by Dr. Halnor just hours after the incident, indicated a negative finding on alcohol consumption.
“As per an eye-witness at the accident site, a mob gathered and dragged the minor driver out of the car after the crash. The minor could not even stand properly at this point, indicating that he was drunk heavily,” noted Hiray.
The prosecutor emphasized the discrepancy between the witness account and the medical report findings, challenging the validity of the negative alcohol test results provided.
Hiray, along with advocate Sarthi Pansare, will continue presenting arguments against the bail pleas on Monday.