Supreme Court Blames Parents for Drunk Driving Accidents by Minors, Cites Lack of Time and Irresponsible Freedom

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday made strong observations on the growing number of road accidents involving minors, stating that parents often do not spend time with their children and instead hand them ATM cards and mobile phones.

The court remarked that parents should be held responsible for accidents caused by their children while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The bench comprising Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan made these oral observations while granting bail to three accused in a case related to the alleged tampering of blood samples following a fatal accident involving a minor driving a luxury Porsche car in Pune.

Expressing deep concern over such incidents, Justice Nagarathna said that it reflects extreme irresponsibility on the part of parents who allow their underage children to drive high-speed cars and permit them to indulge in alcohol and drugs in the name of celebration.

She emphasized that intoxication, reckless driving, and killing innocent people on the roads cannot be termed as a celebration.

She further observed that this is not about freedom, but about reckless misuse of freedom.

Justice Nagarathna pointed out that two innocent people lost their lives in the accident. She added that such tragedies are not isolated incidents, as often innocent people sleeping on roads are run over.

According to her, parents must be held accountable for giving large amounts of money to their minor children for enjoyment, which leads to such disastrous consequences.

A Disturbing Pattern of Manipulation

Appearing for the victim’s mother, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan stated that such cases follow a fixed pattern.

Agreeing with him, Justice Nagarathna remarked that, typically,y a poor driver is framed and made to take the blame by claiming that he was driving the vehicle.

Then, blood samples are allegedly replaced to show that alcohol was not consumed, leading to minimal punishment and eventual escape from serious consequences.

The Supreme Court made these remarks while granting bail to the three accused — Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood, and Amar Santosh Gaikwad.

Reason for Granting Bail

The apex court clarified that bail was granted considering the fact that the accused had already spent a long time in custody.

However, the court also noted that it had much more to say about the matter, particularly in light of the loss of two innocent lives and the alleged conspiracy that followed.

The bench said it was refraining from giving detailed findings at this stage as it could affect the ongoing trial.

Background of the Case

The accused are alleged to have replaced the blood samples of two minors who were sitting in the back seat of the car after the accident.

The tragic incident occurred on May 19, 2024, in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, where the speeding Porsche car driven by a minor hit two people — Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta — killing them on the spot.

Essay Condition That Sparked Nationwide Outrage

The case had earlier drawn massive public attention when the minor accused was granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board on the condition that he write a 300-word essay.

This decision triggered widespread outrage across the country.

Following public anger, Pune Police approached the Juvenile Justice Board seeking a review of its order.

#SupremeCourt #MinorDrivingCase #ParentalResponsibility #RoadSafety #PuneAccident #JusticeBVNagarathna #JusticeUjjalBhuyan #LuxuryCarCrash #JuvenileJustice #BloodSampleTampering #Accountability #IndianJudiciary