Pune Porsche Crash: Supreme Court Bail Reopens Wounds for Jabalpur Family
The Supreme Court's decision on Monday to grant bail to three accused in the Pune Porsche crash case has reopened old wounds for the bereaved family of Ashwini Kosta, a young engineer from Jabalpur who was fatally run over along with fellow techie Aneesh Awadhiya in May 2024. The tragic incident, which occurred in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area, has left the family grappling with renewed pain and a sense of helplessness in their quest for justice.
Father Recalls Harrowing Incident and Emotional Toll
Suresh Kosta, Ashwini's father, expressed deep anguish over the Supreme Court ruling, stating that "Every order like this reopens our wounds." He recalled the harrowing night of May 19, 2024, when his daughter and Aneesh were riding home on a bike after a gathering with friends, only to be struck by a speeding Porsche driven by a minor. The impact claimed their lives on the spot, sparking nationwide outrage and calls for accountability.
The father described the family's dogged fight for justice as emotionally and financially draining. "We tried everything from our side. We hired lawyers and took the battle to courts, but there is a limit to how much a middle-class family can endure and keep up the fight," he told TOI. He added that the pain of losing his daughter "does not fade — it only changes shape," highlighting the enduring grief that families of victims face.
Call for Accountability and Legal Reforms
Asserting that the tragedy could have been avoided, Suresh Kosta pointed to lapses in parental responsibility and intervention. "If the parents stopped their child (from going on a joyride in his luxury fast car), or if the others in the vehicle had intervened, my daughter would still be alive today," he said. He stressed that reckless driving should never be dismissed as a mere mishap, emphasizing that "When a life is lost, it is no longer an accident — it turns out to be a lifelong sentence for families like ours."
Terming the case as more than a routine road accident, Kosta criticized the tendency in India to treat such incidents lightly. "This was not an accident, it had far-reaching implications. Once a death results from reckless driving, it should be treated as murder regardless of whether the person behind the wheel is a minor," he asserted. He called for holding parents accountable who hand over such vehicles to minors, advocating for stricter legal measures to prevent similar tragedies.
Background of the Pune Porsche Crash
The incident that claimed the lives of Ashwini Kosta, a native of Jabalpur, and Aneesh Awadhiya, from Umaria district, occurred when a Porsche driven by a minor rammed their motorcycle in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area. The crash not only resulted in immediate fatalities but also ignited a broader conversation about road safety, juvenile justice, and parental responsibility in India. The family's ongoing struggle for closure underscores the challenges faced by victims' families in navigating the legal system and seeking meaningful justice.
