National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo has urged activists and media personnel not to reveal the identity of the minor involved in the Pune car accident case. He emphasized that disclosing the identity of juvenile offenders or victims is a crime under the Juvenile Justice Act.
“I appeal to all activists and media persons that the police have done their job and the law will take its course. However, in the midst of all this, if anyone reveals the identity of the minor, it will also be a crime under the same law under which these cases have been registered. Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act specifies that the identity of any allegedly juvenile child or victim should not be revealed,” Kanoongo said while speaking to ANI. He added, “So, you all should also keep in mind that the identity of the minor should not be revealed under any circumstances.”
The accident occurred early on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of two young individuals after a luxury car collided with their motorcycle near Kalyani Nagar in Pune. Kanoongo criticized the irresponsibility of giving a car to a minor and serving them alcohol.
According to Kanoongo, the police have filed an FIR against the minor under appropriate sections and have also filed an FIR against the minor’s father for providing the car. Additionally, an FIR has been filed against the establishment that served alcohol to the minor.
“One point that repeatedly comes up in the media is regarding Section 15, which states that the competent court has the authority to decide if a minor aged between 16 and 18 should be tried as an adult if they have allegedly committed a serious crime. According to what the police have told us, this matter has also been brought to the notice of the honourable court. Now it is up to the court to decide,” Kanoongo added.
He assured that the NCPCR is closely monitoring the case and will take necessary actions. Kanoongo also mentioned that no report has yet confirmed whether the minor had consumed alcohol, stressing the importance of letting the court conduct the trial and administer justice accordingly.
“I also want to clarify that no report has been received yet about whether the child consumed alcohol or not, so let this trial be conducted in court and whoever is guilty should be punished, especially those who are providing the place or serving alcohol to children. If the child has also made a mistake, they should receive lawful punishment,” Kanoongo said.
Earlier in the day, Pune Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar stated that the police have taken the most stringent measures in response to the car accident, which claimed the lives of Ashwini Koshta and Anis Awadhiya near Kalyani Nagar. CP Kumar emphasized that the police have acted decisively from the outset, registering the offence under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, ensuring the case was presented in court for trial, and taking action against the father of the accused and the pub owners under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Meanwhile, Pune City Police arrested the bar owner and the bar manager who served liquor to the minor on the night of the accident. The police also detained the father of the minor accused, who was apprehended from the Sambhajinagar area of Aurangabad district in Maharashtra.
On Monday, Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar mentioned that Pune Police are seeking permission to try the juvenile accused as an adult. Earlier on May 19, the Juvenile Justice Board granted bail to the accused, with conditions aimed at rehabilitation and awareness, according to the juvenile accused’s advocate, Prashant Patil.
