Porsche case: ‘We are not living a normal life now'
Ashwini, a 24-year-old IT engineer, was one of the victims of the road accident now known as the Porsche case. She had been riding pillion with her friend and colleague, Aneesh Awadhiya, when their bike was hit by a car being driven by a drunk minor on the night of May 19, 2024. She died on the spot.
The tragedy has become heavier to bear in the months that followed. 'My parents are always thinking about my sister. They do not step out; if someone invites them to a wedding or a get-together, they do not go. They are trying to recover from what has happened. They are deeply immersed in the case,' says Sampreet, Ashwini's elder brother.
He adds that he is 'just holding my parents together so that they don't shatter'. 'We are not living a normal life now. It is very difficult to have a day that was like before this accident took place,' he adds.
Ashwini had been planning to visit home in June to surprise her father on his birthday. The family said she was smart and independent and they had been looking forward to the day she would get married. They had not dreamed that they would have to send her off at a pyre.
Sampreet adds that the family's shock is compounded by the delay in the trial. 'From the trial point of view, the judgment point of view, and the punishment point of view, nothing is happening. It has been a year now and no trial has begun. We are sending letters to the honorable Supreme Court, high court and district court. We feel a little helpless,' he says.
The family is in touch with the authorities, including the investigating officer who has told them that the trial will begin soon 'but we didn't got any date'. They will attend the trials once it begins. 'We feel encouraged that the investigation was carried out well. Pune police has done a good job in investigating all the factors. Many of the accused were sent to jail. The main accused's mother got bail only recently after spending 10 months in jail. Our public prosecutor, senior lawyer Shishir Hiray, is also trying his best to send the accused to jail,' he says.
The family is appealing for the case to be sent to a fast-track court so that the victims of the accident get justice as soon as possible. 'This case does not need any further investigation as everything is clear. It would be a significant step if the accused were to be treated as an adult and punished as an adult and the age mark of 18 years not be considered. The age level should be lowered to 16 due to the alarming rise in juvenile crimes in India,' says Sampreet.
Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
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Hindustan Times
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