Teen’s Grandfather Handed Over Porsche Keys Before Fatal Crash: Pune Police

Pune, 24th May 2024: The grandfather of the teenager involved in the deadly Porsche Taycan crash on Sunday, which claimed the lives of two software engineers in Kalyaninagar, revealed to the crime branch on Thursday that he had given the car keys to his grandson after consulting with his son.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amol Zende stated, “We summoned the grandfather to record his statement to understand and establish the sequence of events leading up to the accident. Until now, no one from the teenager’s family had been questioned in connection with the second FIR.”

According to a senior police officer, the grandfather recounted that his grandson informed the family late Saturday night about plans to attend a party celebrating the completion of their Standard XII (CBSE) exams. After consulting with his son, a builder, the grandfather handed over the Porsche keys and a credit card to the 17-year-old, intended for covering the party expenses.

While the Yerawada police investigate the car crash, the crime branch is handling a second FIR against the teenager’s father. The prominent builder is accused of providing the vehicle to his son despite knowing he lacked a driving license and proper training. The FIR also names the owner and five staff members of Cosie and Blak Marriott pubs in Mundhwa for allegedly serving alcohol to minors, including the teenager. All six accused are in police custody until Friday, when they will be presented before a special court.

“The grandfather claimed ignorance about the potential consequences of giving the car keys to his minor grandson,” said the senior officer.

Zende mentioned that the family’s driver provided critical details, stating the teen drove the car from their Wadgaon Sheri bungalow to Cosie and later to Blak Marriott. “The driver and another employee followed in a separate vehicle. After leaving Blak Marriott, the driver retrieved the car from the pub’s valet,” Zende explained.

“The driver reported that at this juncture, the intoxicated teenager insisted on driving. The driver contacted the builder, who instructed him to allow his son to drive and to accompany him in the adjacent seat,” the DCP added.

The teenager then took the wheel, with the driver seated next to him and two friends in the back seats. The tragic accident occurred as they headed home, hitting a motorcycle from behind and killing two software engineers.

A senior crime branch officer disclosed that they have seized the builder’s smartphone used before the accident, along with digital video recorders from his Wadgaon Sheri bungalow and other locations on Pune-Ahmednagar Road. The builder was eventually detained early Tuesday morning in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.