Pune Porsche Accident: Grandfather Arrested For Coercing Family Driver To Take Blame For Minor
Reported by Mubarak Ansari & Tikam Shekhawat
Yerwada, 25th May 2024: A new development has emerged in the Pune Porsche car accident case, where two IT engineers tragically lost their lives after a luxury car, driven by a teenager, hit their bike. Police have now arrested the teenager’s grandfather.
Based on a complaint from the driver Gangadhar Shivraj Herikrub (42), an FIR has been registered at Yerwada police station against Surendra Kumar Agarwal and his son builder Vishal Agarwal, owner of Bramha Realty and Infrastructure. They stand accused of unlawfully detaining their driver, who had accompanied the teenager to two pubs in the Koregaon Park area.
According to police, following the consumption of alcohol, the teenager (son of Vishal Agarwal) took the wheel, with the driver seated beside him. This decision was made after the driver informed Vishal Agarwal about the teenager’s insistence on driving the sports car. The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 am on Sunday, May 19th, near Landmark Garden society on Kalyani Nagar – Airport Road.
“On the night of May 19th to May 20th, as I was returning home from Yerawada Police Station, Surendra Agarwal sir approached me. He coerced me into his BMW car against my will. He then transported me to his bungalow at Bramha Sun City in Vadgaonsheri. Collaborating with Vishal Agarwal sir, they confiscated my mobile phone. They threatened me, intending to coerce me into accepting blame for the crimes committed by the teenager (Vishal Agarwal’s son) involved. I was explicitly cautioned against disclosing this incident to anyone.”
Agarwals have been charged for offences under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 365 (abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 368 (wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The FIR was registered at 1.43 am and Surendra Agarwal was taken into custody around 3 am. Crime Branch is further investigating the case.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated, “Following the accident, the Agarwals contacted the driver by phone and offered incentives to provide a statement to the police claiming he was driving the Porsche at the time of the incident, shifting blame away from their teenage son. Consequently, he provided a statement to the police in line with their request. However, police investigation verified the facts and filed a case against the teenager. The driver was detained at the police station for questioning and released around 11 pm. Subsequently, the Agarwals brought him home and allegedly confined him after issuing threats. Concerned for his safety, his wife went to the Agarwals’ bungalow, and after a commotion, managed to bring him back. Due to the harassment he faced, he did not return home. The Crime Branch detained him for two days for further inquiry, during which we uncovered these details.”
He continued, “Two other friends of the accused were present in the car during the incident. Their statements were recorded on the first day itself. Being minors, they are considered witnesses in the case and cannot be summoned to the police station. If necessary, our team will visit their homes to gather any additional information. We are also investigating the possibility of a fifth person being present in the car.”
