Case Registered Against Mixer Truck Driver for Death of Two Students in Hinjawadi; Pune Court Denies Police Custody

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Hinjawadi, 25th January 2025: Pimpri Chinchwad Police have registered a case of death by negligence following yesterday’s tragic incident in Hinjawadi where two young women, both students, lost their lives. The brother of one of the deceased has filed a complaint against the driver of the Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) Mixer Truck, which overturned while making a sharp turn and fell on the two girls riding a two-wheeler, resulting in their immediate death.
The incident occurred yesterday at 4:15 PM at Sakhare Patil Chowk on Maan Hinjawadi Road. In a surprising development, the Pune Court has denied Police Custody of the accused to Hinjawadi Police. The truck driver, identified as Amol Waghmare, age 22, a resident of Hinjawadi and native of Latur, was arrested by Hinjawadi Police and produced in court yesterday. However, his Police Custody was denied.
The deceased have been identified as Pranjali Laxman Yadav (age 22) and Ashlesha Narendra Gawande (age 22), both residents of Godrej Hill Retreat Housing Society, Balewadi. Pranjali’s brother, Parth (age 19, resident of Hinjawadi, native of Solapur), filed the complaint at Hinjawadi Police Station. The case was registered today at 12:55 AM under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of 2023 and Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 for death by negligence, rash driving, and mischief.
According to Police Reports, Pranjali and Ashlesha were travelling on Maan Hinjawadi Road when, at an intersection where they were waiting to cross, a mixer truck attempting a sharp turn suddenly came from their front right side, overturned, and fell on them, crushing them instantly. The driver had lost control of the vehicle. He sustained minor injuries. The incident has sparked anger among Hinjawadi residents.
The video of this incident has gone viral on social media. Initially, it was reported that both girls were part of the IT sector in Hinjawadi; however, they were later identified as Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) students from MIT College in Pune. Their families are devastated by this loss, and social media users are expressing outrage over the incident. Although the driver was detained, the court did not grant police custody, leaving him eligible for bail. If he does not apply for bail, he will be sent to Yerawada Central Jail.
The investigation is being conducted by Police Sub Inspector Dattatraya Kale under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Kanhaiya Thorat, in charge of Hinjawadi Police Station.