A Pune court has rejected applications made by the six accused in the much-discussed Pune Porsche hit-and-run case over the alleged tampering of evidence on the ground that “it could send a wrong message to society”.

In a detailed order rejecting the bail made available to the media a day after the hearing of the case, Pune’s Additional Sessions Judge U. M. Mudholkar expressed serious displeasure over the tampering of the evidence by the accused in the case, including the parents of the minor boy involved in the mishap.

The Judge observed that even before the blood of two killed victims on the motorcycle could dry, “the tampering with the evidence commenced and even concluded to a large extent, with the help of monetary influence or otherwise at odd hours of midnight”.

The six accused whose bail applications were rejected were Pune-based builder Vishal S. Agarwal, his wife Shivani V. Agarwal, medicos Shrihari B. Halnor and Ajay A. Taware, plus Ashpak B. Makandar and Amar S. Gaikwad..

The Judge came down heavily on all the accused, including the parents of the minor boy, for “conspiring” to swap blood samples, and protect their son from the legal consequences of his action.

It may be recalled that in the small hours of May 19, the 17-year-old boy – after partying with his friends at a Pune bar -- who had driven off in his Porsche car in his inebriated state at a speed of some 200 kmph and rammed into a motorcycle killing killing Ashwini Koshta and Aneesh Awadhiya (both aged 24 years) who were returning home after a reunion with friends.

Earlier the police had arrested the Dr. Ajay Taware, Head of the Forensics Department, Dr. Shrihari Halnor Halnor, the chief medical officer of the hospital, and a peon for allegedly manipulating the blood sample of the accused.

Dr Taware and Dr Halnor, who have been suspended from their service by the Maharashtra government, have been charged with the alleged “manipulation” of blood samples and destruction of evidence in the case.

The police have recovered Rs 3 lakh during the raid conducted on the homes of Dr. Halnor and another hospital poen Atul Ghatkamble. The money had allegedly been paid by the family of the accused boy for manipulating the blood sample.