Pune Porsche crash case: Dr Taware denies involvement in blood swapping
Shah argued that the charges related to forgery, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), hence, do not apply to his client.
Dr Taware, former head of the Forensic Medicine department at Sassoon General Hospital, has been accused of tampering with blood samples to shield the juvenile involved in the fatal May 19 crash.
The minor, allegedly intoxicated at the time, had driven a Porsche into two young IT professionals - Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta - hailing from Madhya Pradesh, killing them instantly in the Kalyani Nagar area.
The prosecution has maintained that DNA evidence proves the accused's blood sample was swapped with that of his mother to conceal alcohol consumption, and that the act was part of a coordinated attempt to destroy crucial evidence.
Dr Taware, along with nine others, has been charged under multiple IPC sections, including Section 467 (forgery of valuable security), Section 464 (making a false document), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), and Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).
However, Shah contended that no direct evidence links Dr Taware to any conspiracy. 'There is no material to show his involvement in the sample swap or any act of forgery,' he said, urging the court to drop the charges under Sections 467, 464, 120B, and 201.
Meanwhile, co-accused, Ashpak Makandar, has filed a discharge application, while another accused, Ashish Mittal, has moved the court seeking copies of relevant case documents.
Special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray refuted the defence's arguments, stating that the state has technical and scientific proof, including DNA reports, to substantiate the allegations of conspiracy and deliberate evidence tampering.
Draft charges have been filed under several IPC sections, including 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 279 (rash driving), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life), 213 and 214 (bribery to screen offenders), 466 (forging public documents), 468 and 471 (forgery for purpose of cheating and using forged documents), 109 (abetment), as well as relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 8, when defence lawyers for the other accused will continue their arguments.
Separately, the prosecution has intensified its push before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), urging it to try the 17-year-old accused as an adult, citing the 'heinous' nature of the crime. The application for an adult trial was filed over a year ago by Pune Police, but the matter has seen multiple delays, including procedural adjournments and pending assessments.
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