Pune: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday granted bail to Vishal Agarwal, the father of the minor accused in the fatal Porsche crash in Pune on 19th May 2024. The accident had claimed the lives of two people who were travelling on a two-wheeler.
A bench of Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order after hearing arguments from both sides. The court noted that Agarwal had been in custody for about 22 months and that bail had already been granted to other accused in similar circumstances.
The bench said these factors were enough to grant him bail. However, it imposed strict conditions. The court directed Agarwal not to contact any witnesses connected to the case directly or indirectly. It also warned that the state could seek cancellation of bail if these conditions were violated. The court further asked the trial court to complete the trial as early as possible.
The case relates to the Porsche crash that occurred in the wee hours of 19th May 2024, in Kalyani Nagar. According to the police reports, a Porsche car allegedly driven by a minor rammed into a motorcycle from behind. Two people riding the bike, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, died after suffering serious injuries.
During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna observed that the allegations show a wider social problem where people try to bypass the law. However, she said such concerns alone cannot justify keeping a person in jail before conviction. The judge said the court must balance social concerns with the right to personal liberty.
The Government of Maharashtra opposed the bail plea. The prosecution argued that Agarwal could not claim parity with other accused who had already been granted bail. It is alleged that he arranged Rs 5 lakh through his wife to bribe officials to manipulate blood samples and obtain a “nil alcohol” report -- allegedly to save his son from a drunk driving charge.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Agarwal. He argued that although the minor was driving the car, a driver had been appointed and was present in the vehicle. He said Agarwal had taken reasonable precautions.
Victim’s Lawyer Opposed The Bail
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the father of one of the victims, strongly opposed bail. He argued that the matter was not just a road accident but involved a serious attempt to interfere with the justice system after the crash.
Investigators claim that after the accident, a plan was made to destroy evidence and obtain a “nil alcohol” report. The police allege that blood samples of the minor and his friends were replaced at Sassoon General Hospital with samples from other individuals. They also claim false entries were made in hospital records.
The investigation is registered at Yerwada Police Station (under the Pune City Police Commissionerate). Police have invoked several charges under the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Motor Vehicles Act.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court had rejected Agarwal’s bail plea in December 2025. The High Court had observed that there was prima facie evidence suggesting his role in a conspiracy to tamper with evidence.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted bail to three other accused, Ashish Mittal, Aditya Sood and Amar Gaikwad, who are accused of giving their blood samples in place of the minors who were in the car.
Bail had also been granted earlier to Ajay Taware, a doctor at Sassoon Hospital, accused of involvement in the alleged blood sample manipulation.
