‘I put no pressure on police, opponents trying to defame me’: MLA Sunil Tingre rejects allegations over Pune Porsche crash case

Several leaders including from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP’s allies in Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti have alleged that weaker sections of the Indian Penal Code were applied under political pressure because of the “money power” of the minor’s realtor father.

Tingre said on Monday that he had for a while ignored baseless information being circulated on social media but felt compelled to respond when his political opponents started taking advantage of the situation.

He said he stood with the families of the victims—Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, IT workers from Madhya Pradesh—and that he hoped those responsible for their deaths would face strong action.

Tingre wrote that he was informed by his workers at 3 am on May 19 of a major accident in his constituency. He also said an acquaintance of his had informed him that the latter’s son had met with an accident.

“As a responsible public representative, early yesterday morning I first went to the accident spot and then to the Yerwada police station. I was told there that the police inspector had taken the injured to the hospital. I called him and he told me that he will be back in 15 minutes. After he returned, the police inspector informed me about the sequence of events, Accordingly, I instructed him to take strict action against the guilty and left the station. I put no pressure on the police and, without a doubt, the officials will confirm this.

“Hence an offence was registered by 6 am and the judicial process was also completed. Still, some elements are mischievously claiming on social media that I put pressure on the police. Since this may defame my public and social image, I have mentioned the fact here,” Tingre wrote in a social media post.

The MLA said that he was against the “nightlife culture” that has grown in some areas of his constituency.

“In upscale areas like Viman Nagar, Kalyani Nagar and Kharadi, there are pubs, bars, terrace hotels operating illegally late into the night, indulging in illegal sale of alcohol and operating beyond the permitted timings. I have also raised my voice against gambling dens, hookah parlours, massage centres in the area. I have previously written to the police commissioner and raised this issue in the assembly. Additionally, I have personally met with the Pune city police commissioner along with the residents of Kalyani Nagar to bring this to their attention. I will continue to oppose these illegal businesses in the future as well,” he wrote.