The teenage driver allegedly involved in the Porsche car accident in Pune was released from the observation home on Tuesday evening following a high court order.
Two techies—Ashwini Koshta and her friend Anish Awadhiya—were killed when the luxury car rammed into their two-wheeler in the early hours of May 19. The teen, who the police claim was drunk while driving the car, was lodged at an observation home in the city.
The Bombay High Court, however, quashed the orders issued by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) remanding the minor to the observation home, and ordered his immediate release.
"We allow the petition and order his release. The CCL (Child in Conflict with Law) shall be in the care and custody of the petitioner (paternal aunt)," said a division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande.
Amid the kneejerk reaction and the public outcry, the CCL's age was not considered by the JJB, the court noted.
The court said the accused is already under rehabilitation, which is the primary objective, and he is already referred to a psychologist and the same shall be continued.
The order was passed on a plea filed by the 17-year-old boy's paternal aunt, who claimed he was illegally detained and sought his immediate release.
The JJB had earlier granted bail to the minor boy on the same day the accident took place, but later sent him to the observation home till June 5 amid outrage over the “lenient treatment” and a review application by the police.
