Mumbaia few moments ago
Police had arrested 24-year-old accused Akshay Shinde on August 17 on charges of sexual exploitation. Akshay died in a police encounter on 23 September.
An incident of sexual exploitation of two girls took place in Badlapur, Maharashtra on 12 August 2024, the main accused of which, Akshay Shinde, died in a police encounter on 23 September. A magisterial inquiry into the encounter was ordered, the report of which was presented in the Bombay High Court four months later on Monday, January 20.
The division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale in the Bombay High Court said – Investigation has revealed that the 5 policemen present in the van were responsible for the encounter. FIR should be registered against these five. The government should tell us in 2 weeks which investigating agency will investigate against these five.
Actually, Thane Crime Branch had encountered accused Akshay Shinde on September 23 at around 6:15 pm. The crime branch had taken Akshay from Taloja jail to Badlapur. The government had said that Akshay had snatched the police revolver and fired, in self-defense the police opened fire and Akshay was killed.
After the death of accused Akshay, his father had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the encounter. He had said that Akshay was beaten severely in custody. An encounter was conducted to suppress the matter. Even his dead body was not allowed to be seen.
Accused Akshay’s mother had refused to take the dead body. The mother of accused Shinde said that after the encounter, we kept waiting for hours in the hospital. But the policemen did not even let us see Akshay’s body. The allegations of sexual exploitation against Akshay were not proved. He was afraid to even burst crackers. How could he open fire on the police? The encounter is a conspiracy. Now we will not take his body. Akshay had told that the policemen used to beat him. They also used to get statements written by putting pressure on them.
Photo of accused Akshay Shinde after the encounter, he was declared dead in the hospital.
The inspector who shot at the accused had caught Dawood’s brother. Inspector Sanjay Shinde, who shot at accused Akshay, had been the head of the anti-extortion cell of Thane Crime Branch. He was also in the team of encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma. The same team had arrested Iqbal Kaskar, brother of underworld don Dawood, in 2017.
On March 19, the Bombay High Court had sentenced encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma to life imprisonment. He was found guilty in the 2006 fake encounter case of a close associate of gangster Chhota Rajan. A documentary series has also been made on the story of the encounter of Pradeep Sharma’s team.
An inquiry was also conducted against Sanjay Shinde in 2012. In 2012, Vijay Palande, accused in two murder cases, had escaped from police custody. Sanjay’s uniform was found in the SUV in which he fled. He also came into controversy in the year 2000 in the kidnapping case.
Thane Police had encountered the accused in this van. Police officials investigated it on Tuesday morning.
After the news of sexual exploitation in Badlapur school spread, the local people had surrounded the school.
The accused joined the school on August 1, sexually assaulted him on August 12-13.
Akshay Shinde, accused of raping girls, used to work as a sweeper in the school. He was appointed on contract only on 1st August. On August 12 and 13, he sexually assaulted two girls, aged 3 and 4, studying in kindergarten in the girls’ washroom of the school.
After the incident, both the girls were afraid of going to school. When the parents of a girl became suspicious, they interrogated their daughter. After this the girl told the whole story. Then the parents of that girl talked to the parents of the other girl. After this, medical test of both the girls was done, in which sexual abuse was revealed.
The girls used to call the accused Dada, he was arrested on August 17.
Police interrogation revealed that the girl used to call the accused Shinde as Dada (Marathi word for elder brother). According to the girl, ‘Dada’ opened her clothes and touched her inappropriately. There were no female employees in the school where the incident took place.
When the families of both the girls reached the police station to register the case, the police also delayed in registering the FIR. The victim’s families sought help from social workers. Two days later, late night on 16 August, the police filed a complaint. The police had arrested the accused on August 17.
People had stopped trains, pelted stones at the police
On August 20, protesters opened the main gate of the school and entered inside and vandalized it.
The crowd had demonstrated at Badlapur station from 8 am to 6 pm on August 20 regarding the incident. Movement of local trains remained halted for more than 10 hours. In the evening the police vacated the railway track by lathi charge. Then the crowd also pelted stones at the police.
Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan reached Badlapur station to talk to the protesters, but had to return. After this, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of SIT. Apart from this, the government had said that the case would be tried in a fast track court.
The state government had suspended three policemen, including the lady police inspector of Badlapur police station, for delay in registering the case. Besides, some school staff including the principal were also suspended.
Child Commission said- School administration tried to suppress the case
Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Susieben Shah had alleged that the school hid the crime instead of helping the girls’ parents. Had the school taken timely cognizance and lodged the complaint, the chaotic situation could have been avoided. The commission has presented the report regarding the matter to CM Eknath Shinde.
