'Parents To Be Blamed For Drunken Driving Accidents Caused By Kids' : Justice BV Nagarathna

Justice BV Nagarathna of the Supreme Court on Monday made strong oral observations on parental responsibility, while hearing bail pleas connected to the 2024 Pune Porsche accident in which two persons were killed.

After dictating an order granting bail to three accused alleged to have conspired to swap blood samples in the case, Justice Nagarathna squarely placed the spotlight on parents who hand over cars and money to their children without exercising control.

Noting the seriousness of the incident and the subsequent attempt to cover up, she remarked that the accused got bail only on the ground of liberty, as there was long incarceration. “We have much to say on this. Two innocent lives were lost and then all these machinations. But the only thing in your favour is that there is a long incarceration. So liberty versus all that, ultimately,” Justice Nagarathna said.

She clarified that the court was refraining from making detailed findings as it could prejudice the ongoing trial.

“Father and mother are to be blamed for not having control over their children. If we say anything on that line we are only afraid that it may prejudice the trial against these appellants,” Justice Nagarathna said.

She criticised the idea of celebration linked with substance use and reckless driving. “Celebration is not on the basis of substance and then going in a top speed and resulting in killing of innocent people on the road or innocent people sleeping on the road,” she observed.

Justice Nagarathna further remarked that the court had noted such cases in the past as well. When Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the mother of the deceased woman, said that such cases followed a fixed pattern, Justice Nagarathna responded in agreement.

Sankaranarayanan then said, “Get some poor driver to take the rap saying we were not driving that person was driving, replace blood samples, say no alcohol, 3 years and go.”

Justice Nagarathna added, “The law has to catch up on these people. Most importantly the parents are responsible for handing over the vehicle to the children and giving them sufficient funds to have a gala time,” she said.

Justice Nagarathna also opined that a social problem is reflected in such incidents. “This is the problem. Because parents have no time to talk to the children, have a dialogue with them and spend time with the children. So what is the substitute? Money, ATM card. So they go on their own under mobile phone,” she said.

The remarks were made during the hearing of bail pleas filed by Ashish Satish Mittal, Aditya Avinash Sood and Amar Santhosh Gaikwad, who are accused of conspiring to swap blood samples of two minors seated in the back of the car after the accident.

The bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted them bail, noting that they had been incarcerated for about 18 months, while leaving all issues on merits open for trial.

Case no. – SLP(Crl) No. 21370/2025 and connected cases

Case Title – Ashish Satish Mittal v. State of Maharashtra and connected cases