Pune car crash: Retired official urges MHRC to transfer Pune Police chief over corruption

The car involved in Pune car crash/ PTI

Retired bureaucrat Arun Bhatia has written to the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (MHRC), urging the immediate transfer of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar due to alleged corruption in handling the Pune car crash that resulted in two deaths. In his letter, Bhatia described the occurrence as a "vulgar, primitive, and frightening exhibition of police corruption," accusing top-level authorities of destroying evidence to shield the motorist guilty of the fatal Pune car crash, stated PTI report.

"I want your assistance because this case has startled us, heightened our uneasiness, and shown the dreadful face of our governance. "Corrupt officials and harassed citizens have become commonplace," Bhatia wrote to the MHRC chairman.

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Reportedly, Bhatia argued that corruption is now widespread and institutionalised, making it impossible for the common public to oppose such systematic wrongdoing. He said that police authorities and senior doctors at Pune's Sassoon Hospital conspired to protect the offender of the Pune car crash.

"The police delayed the blood test by more than six hours, fed the driver pizza at the station prior to the test, and then destroyed and replaced the blood sample." "They also postponed recording statements from witnesses and car occupants," the letter says.

Bhatia chastised Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar for dismissing the blood test manipulation as a "procedural lapse" and cited media reports indicating political meddling.

He asked the MHRC to hold high officials accountable for their subordinates' efforts to improve government departments. "It is common knowledge that subordinates collect bribe money for higher officials," Bhatia stated.

Bhatia demanded that the police commissioner be removed immediately and that an impartial probe be conducted into his actions. He also sought a probe of the Chief Medical Officer's nomination, which he claimed was influenced by a politician's proposal, and called for the Health Secretary to be punished, the PTI report stated.

A Porsche, allegedly driven by an intoxicated 17-year-old, collided with a two-wheeler, killing two IT professionals in Kalyani Nagar, Pune. The minor was placed in an observation home, while his father, realtor Vishal Agarwal, and grandfather, Surendra Agarwal, were detained for allegedly kidnapping the family's driver and pressuring him to take the blame for the Pune car crash, reported PTI.