New Delhi: Supreme Court Grants Bail to Three Accused in Pune Porsche Blood-Sample Tampering Case
The Supreme Court of India on February 2, 2026, granted bail to three persons accused of tampering with and swapping blood samples in connection with the May 19, 2024 Pune Porsche crash—a high-profile incident that claimed the lives of two young software professionals.
A Bench of Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan ordered the release of Aditya Avinash Sood, Ashish Satish Mittal, and Amar Santosh Gaikwad on conditions to be framed by the trial court, noting that they had been in custody for around 18 months amid prolonged undertrial detention with limited progress in the trial.
The three accused were alleged to have conspired to replace the blood samples of two minor passengers in the Porsche with their own samples in order to conceal alcohol consumption by the minors and thereby shield the investigation into the deadly crash. According to the prosecution, Sood provided his blood sample in place of his minor son’s, Mittal substituted his sample for that of another minor, and Gaikwad acted as a middleman who allegedly received ₹3 lakh to facilitate the swap. They face charges under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery and tampering with evidence, as well as under the Prevention of Corruption Act for bribery.
While granting bail, the Supreme Court emphasised that there can be no punishment before conviction and expressed concern that the accused had already spent significant time in custody while the trial had seen little advancement, with many prosecution witnesses yet to be examined. The Bench directed that bail conditions must include prohibitions on contacting witnesses, warning that any violation could lead to cancellation of bail.
While delivering the order, the Court also made broader observations on parental responsibility, noting that allowing minors access to high-speed luxury vehicles and alcohol reflected a serious failure of supervision. It observed that substance abuse by minors and reckless behaviour have tragic consequences and stressed that parental disengagement cannot substitute proper guidance and control.
Background of the Porsche Crash and Subsequent Investigation
The case arises from a fatal accident on May 19, 2024, when an unregistered Porsche car, allegedly driven at high speed by a 17-year-old under the influence of alcohol, struck a motorcycle in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra, killing Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta. The deceased were young IT professionals returning from a night out.
The crash triggered nationwide outrage, not only due to the loss of life but also because of the initial handling of the case. The juvenile driver was granted bail by a Juvenile Justice Board within hours, subject to conditions including writing an essay on road safety and undergoing counselling—an order that drew widespread criticism. Subsequent police investigations allegedly uncovered evidence manipulation, including delayed blood-alcohol testing and swapping of blood samples of minors present in the car. Several individuals, including doctors, hospital staff, parents of the minors, and intermediaries, were arrested and charged.
In December 2025, the Bombay High Court had rejected bail applications of several accused, observing that granting bail to financially well-placed persons could risk witness tampering and obstruction of justice. The Supreme Court has now overturned that denial, citing prolonged custody and delays in the trial.
Case Details:
Case Title: Ashish Satish Mittal v. State of Maharashtra
Bench: Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan
Order Date: February 2, 2026
Accused Released on Bail:
- Aditya Avinash Sood
- Ashish Satish Mittal
- Amar Santosh Gaikwad
