Pune Porsche crash: Hospital dean's big claim against minister, MLA
What's the story
The dean of Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, Vinayak Kale, has alleged that one of the doctors accused of manipulating the blood samples of the 17-year-old boy behind the Porsche accident was appointed despite being accused in two cases.
Kale alleged that Dr. Ajay Tawade was appointed as superintendent with approval from the state's medical education minister, Hasan Mushrif.
Dr. Tawade was appointed despite being an accused in kidney transplant and drug cases, Kale added.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Two IT professionals, both 24, were killed when their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old teenager, in the early hours of May 19.
According to investigators, the teenager was intoxicated at the time.
However, the Juvenile Justice Board granted the teenager bail 15 hours after the incident on certain conditions, including writing a 300-word essay on traffic accidents.
The teen was later sent to an observation home in Yerawada until June 5, following criticism.
Influence
Alleged political influence in controversial appointment
Kale further stated that Dr. Tawade's appointment was recommended by legislator Sunil Tingre to Mushrif.
Both Tingre and Mushrif are members of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance led by Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra.
Dr. Tawade along with two others have been accused of discarding the blood samples of the teen and replacing them with ones that showed no traces of alcohol.
Investigation
Further developments and police action in the case
While Dr. Tawade and a peon, Atul Ghatkamble, have been suspended, Dr. Shrihari Halnor was fired by the hospital on Wednesday for allegedly manipulating blood samples of the 17-year-old boy.
The three were arrested on Monday after an inquiry revealed their alleged involvement in discarding and replacing the blood samples.
Following the arrest, Dr. Halnor admitted to changing the blood sample under Dr. Tawade's instructions.
Phone calls
14 calls between the teen's father and Dr. Tawade
Notably, there were 14 calls between the teen's father, Vishal Agarwal, and Dr. Tawade before collecting the minor's blood samples.
A second blood test was conducted at a different hospital, and DNA tests confirmed that the samples were from two different individuals.
Police sources suspect Shivani Agarwal, the mother of the 17-year-old boy, had given her blood sample to be swapped.
Pune Police are now planning a "digital reconstruction" of the accident scene using AI-based tools for "evidence appreciation."