PUNE: The ashes of software engineer Ashwini Costa, who was killed in the Pune Porsche hit-and-run along with her friend Anish Awadhia, were immersed in River Narmada.

It was murder, not an accident, says Anish's father, Omprakash Awadhia, asking that the case be transferred to a court in Madhya Pradesh.

But anger rages in both the families who have vowed to bring the juvenile accused and his parents to justice.

Omprakash Awadhia, asking that the case be transferred to a court in MP.

Ashwini's father Suresh Kumar Kosta demands law reforms to handle such cases so that there is “appropriate punishment” to act as a deterrent. 

"Somebody who squanders thousands of rupees on booze in pubs and drives expensive cars, how can he be treated as a minor and allowed to get away with a crime in which two young, talented engineers were killed for no fault of their own? He should be dealt with sternly so that no other parent has to face such a tragedy.

The juvenile's parents are equally responsible for the crime as they allowed him to drive the car," said Kosta, after immersing her ashes.

Ashwini had her birthday in June, he said. "I am due to retire the same month. We looked forward to celebrating both occasions and she was about to book us a hotel," said Kosta.

The anguished father said the probe should be monitored by Supreme Court or Bombay high court. "Only then is an impartial probe possible," he sobbed.

Tears and anguish forced him to pause midway several times, but he would pull himself together. "I will fight for justice till my last breath," he vowed.

He urged CM Mohan Yadav to talk to his counterpart in Maharashtra to ensure a free and fair investigation. "Both young engineers killed in the incident were from MP and the state govt must take steps to ensure justice," Kosta said.

As he drifted into Ashwini's childhood, Kosta recalled that she had scored 99% in both class 10 and 12 board exams.

"Then, she left for Pune to study engineering, where she scored 90% marks. She always worked hard for a bright future, and wouldn't even go anywhere on outings so that her studies weren't hampered. She was elated when she got her first job, but she couldn't enjoy it," he said.

Anish's father, Omprakash Awadhia, spoke with media from his home in Pali, Umaria district. "Hearing of the case should be held in MP, and not in Pune.

Only then can justice be done. The juvenile accused was treated like a guest at the police station. He didn't even have a licence, so it's not an accident but murder," he said.

"Madhya Pradesh govt should take the initiative to get the case transferred to MP. The law should be stern in such cases. Not only the accused, but his parents should al so get appropriate punishment, so that other parents like them learn a lesson or two," he said.

Both families want the juvenile, who is four months shy of his 18th birthday, to be tried as an adult.

"We will keep fighting for justice till our last breath," Awadhia said, adding that he has not been able to talk to Ashwini's family for a joint legal fight.

Anish had big dreams, he said. He recently visited Dubai and then came home to Pali for a few days. He returned to Pune on May 14 and only five days later, he lay dead on a Pune street.

"Anish had said he would ensure good education to all the children of the family. He was supposed to go to London for higher education. I have a printing press and with my modest earnings, I managed to educate our children. With his death, all our dreams lie shattered," he said.