Pune: Controversy Surrounds Juvenile Justice Board Member Over Bail To Minor Driver In Porsche Crash Case
Yerwada, 28th May 2024: Dr. LN Danwade, a member of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) who recently granted bail within half an hour to the minor driver involved in a Porsche crash in Kalyani Nagar, is under scrutiny due to his controversial past.
Prior to his JJB appointment, Danwade served as the superintendent of Balagram ‘SOS’ Children’s Village in Raigad, where a minor girl student tragically committed suicide during his tenure. Despite criticism and suspension from the organization following the incident, he was later recommended by a senior official in the Women and Child Development Commissionerate for the Child Welfare Committee in Pune. After his term there, he was quickly appointed to the JJB.
Danwade’s career and decisions have sparked debate within the commissionerate, raising questions about his suitability and judgments. After relocating to Pune, he established connections with senior officials at the Women and Child Development Commissionerate, which facilitated his appointments. He served on the Pune Bal Kalyan Samiti for three years before joining the JJB.
Recent events following the Kalyani Nagar crash have intensified scrutiny of Dr. Danwade’s decisions. On Sunday, May 19, during a holiday when two JJB members were required, he appeared alone for the hearing of the high-profile case. Controversy erupted when he unilaterally granted bail to the minor accused within half an hour, bypassing standard procedure and without consulting the board’s supervisory officer. He also failed to seek input from Chief Magistrate Manasi Pardeshi and second appointed member K. T. Thorat. Danwade directed the minor to serve with the RTO for 15 days, write a 300-word essay on the accident, and follow seven additional minor instructions. This unconventional verdict has faced widespread criticism.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed concerns about the decision, calling for a thorough review of the Juvenile Justice Board’s actions. Fadnavis warned that failure to address these concerns through a review could lead to further legal action, potentially escalating the matter to the High Court.
The JJB made history on Wednesday, May 22, by conducting its longest session ever, from 11 am to 8:30 pm, involving extensive arguments from both the defence and public prosecutors citing the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. After deliberations, the JJB ordered the juvenile accused to be remanded to a correctional facility for 14 days.
Dr. Neelam Gorhe, deputy chairperson of the state legislative council, raised objections to the procedures followed by government prosecutors in this case. Criticism mounted against Danwade, who had earlier granted bail to the juvenile accused. Dr. Gorhe expressed surprise at the lack of objection from government lawyers and vowed to raise the matter in the legislative body.
