Melbourne, Aug 21 - Australian police are determined to track down an Indian student who ran over a teenager and later fled to India on a false passport. A police official stressed 'we're prepared to do whatever it takes to bring him back'.

Puneet had crashed his car into Gold Coast student Dean Hofstee, 19, in central Melbourne last October. He was reportedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

He was to face the Victorian County Court Thursday after pleading guilty to culpable driving, despite blaming the crash on a cat, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

But Puneet, 19, of Newport failed to turn up and Judge Lisa Hannan issued a warrant for his arrest.

'Police believe Puneet left Australia on the passport of fellow Indian student Sukhcharanjit Singh, on a flight to New Delhi June 12, three hours after reporting for bail,' the report stated.

Until that date, Puneet had reported for bail twice a week and had surrendered his passport to authorities.

Inspector Richard Watkins of the Major Collisions unit said police became aware Puneet had left Australia about three weeks ago.

'We're prepared to do whatever it takes to bring him back,' he was quoted as saying.

Police will make inquiries based on Puneet's student visa application.