Pune Porsche Case: Teen Driver’s Trial as Adult Remains Uncertain As Two JJB Seats Still Vacant

Pune, 1st February 2025: The Maharashtra government’s delay in appointing two presiding members to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Pune, has stalled the hearing on whether the 17-year-old driver in the Porsche Taycan crash case can be tried as an adult. The case, which involves the death of two IT engineers in Kalyaninagar on May 19 last year, remains unresolved due to the JJB’s incomplete panel.

The principal magistrate of the JJB had previously sought a counselor’s report to determine if the teenager, the son of a city-based builder, should face trial as an adult. While the necessary reports have been submitted, the absence of two board members has prevented any further progress.

On Friday, the JJB postponed the hearing to April 26 due to a lack of quorum. “We had urged the principal magistrate to expedite our plea, but we were informed that similar cases from other police stations in the district were also awaiting hearings,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ganesh Ingale, who is leading the investigation.

The JJB comprises a principal magistrate, along with two members appointed by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department for a three-year term. However, on October 8 last year, the state government terminated the services of two JJB members after an inquiry found them guilty of misusing their powers while granting bail to the accused teenager.

To address the backlog of cases, the WCD department has proposed an interim solution—assigning additional charge to JJB members from Ahilyanagar and Satara. A senior official stated, “We have submitted a proposal to the government, recommending that experienced members from these districts handle pending cases in Pune. The approval is expected next week.”

Meanwhile, the defence team representing the teenager has cited provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) to argue that the police’s request should remain on hold until the JJB is fully constituted. The legal deadlock has left the victims’ families waiting for justice, as crucial decisions in the case remain pending.