[Porsche Crash Case] “Procedural Failures & Misconduct”: Maha Govt Terminated 2 Members of Juvenile Justice Board For Giving Bail To Accused

The Maharashtra government terminated the services of two members of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) here in connection with bail given to a juvenile accused in the Pune Porsche crash case, officials said Today (Oct 10). A probe panel of the state Women and Child Development (WCD) Department had recommended action against the two members – L N Danwade and Kavita Thorat – for alleged “procedural lapses, misconduct and non-compliance with norms”.

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PUNE: The Maharashtra government officially terminated the services of two members of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) in connection with the controversial bail granted to a juvenile involved in the Pune Porsche crash case, according to officials.

This decision follows a detailed investigation by the state’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, which identified significant procedural failures and misconduct by the two board members, L N Danwade and Kavita Thorat.

An inquiry panel established by the WCD Department had specifically recommended action against the two individuals due to alleged

“procedural lapses, misconduct and non-compliance with norms.”

Speaking to the media, WCD Department Commissioner Prashant Narnavare confirmed the findings, stating,

“I had given the probe panel report to the state government and recommended that the appointment of the two members should be terminated.”

He further added,

“The report, recommending the termination, was sent to the state government in July. The state government on Tuesday terminated the appointment of both the members as they were found guilty of misusing their powers, which have been provided under the Juvenile Justice Act.”

The formal notification from the Maharashtra government, dated October 8, confirmed that the inquiry had indeed found Danwade and Thorat guilty of “misusing their powers” under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act-2015. The notification emphasized that the government deemed it necessary to terminate their appointments, considering the severity of their misconduct.

The case dates back to May 19, when a tragic accident occurred in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar area. Two IT professionals lost their lives after their motorcycle was struck by a speeding Porsche allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol. The incident not only shocked the local community but also gained national attention, particularly due to the lenient terms of bail granted to the accused.

At the center of the controversy was JJB member L N Danwade, who granted bail to the underage accused on exceptionally lenient terms, which included writing a mere 300-word essay on road safety. The leniency displayed by the board raised serious questions and led to widespread outrage across the country.

In response to the public outcry, the WCD Department promptly established a committee to investigate the conduct of the two JJB members responsible for the decision. The findings of the inquiry revealed multiple instances of “procedural lapses, misconduct and non-compliance with norms” on the part of both Danwade and Thorat. The committee diligently reviewed the statements made by the two members and found their actions in violation of established protocols.

Following these revelations, a show-cause notice was issued to both JJB members, seeking their formal responses to the allegations. However, as Commissioner Narnavare clarified,

“But as their replies were not satisfactory, we wrote to the state government and proposed a disciplinary action against both the members.”

Given the gravity of the procedural breaches and the misuse of powers granted under the Juvenile Justice Act, the state government acted decisively by terminating the appointments of Danwade and Thorat. The move underscores the government’s commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that those in positions of authority adhere to the proper protocols when dealing with sensitive cases involving minors.

This case serves as a reminder of the need for strict compliance with legal and ethical standards, especially in matters related to juvenile justice, where decisions can have long-lasting impacts on both victims and accused individuals.

The Maharashtra government’s decision to terminate the two JJB members reflects its resolve to maintain the integrity of the juvenile justice system.

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