Pune: Court urged to deny bail to Agarwal couple in Kalyaninagar accident case
Pune: The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ganesh Ingle, has urged the court to reject the bail application of the Agarwal couple, accused in the Kalyaninagar accident case, citing concerns that they might flee the country if released. Drawing parallels to the high-profile cases of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, ACP Ingle argued that the wealthy couple, if granted bail, could evade justice by absconding abroad.
During the hearing on Monday, Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hire presented the government’s arguments against granting bail to Vishal Agarwal, a construction businessman, and his wife, Shivani Dhanadhaya. Both are currently in judicial custody following their involvement in the Kalyaninagar accident, which has garnered significant attention.
The prosecution emphasized the gravity of the crime, revealing that after the accident, the accused attempted to manipulate evidence by offering bribes to alter the blood samples of the injured child at Sassoon Hospital. The prosecution also noted that there are six key witnesses in the case who could be threatened if the accused are released on bail.
DNA test reports of the minor boy, along with those of his parents, Vishal and Shivani Agarwal, have been submitted to the court, further indicating that the accused tried to destroy evidence. ACP Ingle highlighted the risk of the couple fleeing the country, stressing that their financial resources could allow them to escape, much like Modi and Mallya.
In addition to these concerns, the court was informed about a financial transaction where a friend of Vishal Agarwal, a retired officer from the Public Works Department, facilitated a payment of Rs 4 lakh. This money was allegedly intended to influence the driver involved in the accident and others connected to the case. The court was also told about an officer at Sassoon Hospital who, after noticing discrepancies in the blood test report, alerted senior officials.
The defense team, comprising Advocates Harshad Nimbalkar, Sudhir Shah, Rishikesh Ganu, Prasad Kulkarni, and Satyam Nimbalkar, will continue their arguments in the next hearing scheduled for Wednesday, August 14.
The court’s decision on the bail application remains pending, with the prosecution strongly advocating against the release of the Agarwal couple due to the potential risk of witness intimidation and flight.
