Accused of Badlapur Sex Attack Accused …

Akshay Shinde, accused of sexually assaulting two girls at a school in Badlapur city of Maharashtra, died in a retaliatory shooting by the police after seizing a police pistol and opening fire there, an official said.

The incident took place at 6:15 PM when Shinde, 24, was being taken to Badlapur in Thane district from Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai in a police vehicle.

When the vehicle reached Mumbra bypass, Shinde allegedly grabbed the pistol of one of the officers and fired two or three rounds, killing the Assistant Inspector of Police (API). In response, another policeman shot Shinde, critically injuring him.

Shinde was rushed to a hospital in Kalwa where he succumbed to his injuries, the official said, adding that API Nilesh More, who was injured in the firing by Shinde, is being treated in the hospital.

According to the police officer, four policemen and Shinde were traveling in the vehicle.

The shooting came more than a month after massive protests erupted on the streets and at the Badlapur railway station over sexual allegations made by Shinde against two girls, who worked as sweepers at the school.

As the news of Shinde’s death spread, some people burst crackers in Badlapur town on Monday night.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the police opened fire in self-defence, which led to the death of Akshay Shinde.

“Akshay Shinde’s ex-wife accused him of sexual assault and filed a complaint against her. The police took Shinde (to Badlapur) to investigate this complaint. He grabbed the police gun and shot at the officer. He also fired in the air. The police shot him in retaliation,” Fadnavis said. .

Shinde, a contract sweeper at a school in Badlapur, was arrested on August 17, five days after he allegedly molested the two girls in the school toilet.

On September 3, the Bombay High Court told the police to make the case “watertight” and not rush to file the charge sheet under public pressure.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders were shocked by the “encounter” and called for a detailed investigation into the incident.

CM Shinde said that Akshay’s ex-wife had accused him of sexual violence and the police had taken him in for investigation into the allegations.

“He grabbed the policeman’s gun and fired. The police fired back in self-defense,” he told reporters.

However, the opposition leader questioned whether Akshay Shinde was killed to destroy evidence in a case that sparked national outrage.

Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said the “meeting” was conducted to save “other people”.

Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said, “This is surprising. There should be a judicial inquiry into this incident. State Congress President Nana Patole wondered if this “meeting” was being held to save the school trustees who have not been arrested so far.

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Milind Deora said, “The hue & cry raised by the opposition over the death of Akshay Shinde is despicable and irresponsible. Accused #Badlapur shot at police & seriously injured API Nilesh More. What does the opposition want?” Should our policemen put their lives in the hands of accused rapists?”

Akshay Shinde’s uncle told a Marathi TV channel that he met his nephew in the Taloja jail on Monday and was told that the police were constantly beating him.

“Is this an attempt to destroy the evidence? Were Akshay Shinde’s hands not tied by the police during transit? How did he manage to get hold of the gun, and how was the police negligent? We demand a judicial inquiry into this matter,” Wadettiwar said.

No action was taken against the management of the BJP-linked school, but the arrested person was shot dead under suspicious circumstances, he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare related the incident to the murder of four rape accused in Telangana in 2019.

“There also the police claimed that it was done in self-defence. However, because of the death, the truth did not come out. The same thing will happen with the Badlapur sexual assault. Was Akshay Shinde killed because he was hiding something more sinister? Why is the school management doing this? still like that?” he asked.

How Akshay Shinde managed to hold a gun despite being handcuffed and how could he operate a firearm, Andhare asked again.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the callous behavior by the CM and HM to confuse the entire case from the very beginning was clear.

Hitting back, CM Shinde said, “Earlier, the opposition party demanded Akshay Shinde’s hanging. Now, they are taking sides and questioning the integrity of the Maharashtra police. Such behavior of the opposition leaders is reprehensible and unfortunate. When asked about the opposition’s allegation that the accused was killed for garnering political sympathy, the CM said that the parties are making insensitive allegations as they are baffled by the success of the state government’s Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme.

Fadnavis said, “The opposition is raising questions on every issue. They want him (Shinde) to be hanged. It is wrong to say that when the police are trying to save lives”.

NCP chief (SP) Sharad Pawar said that Shinde should be hanged as per the provisions of law, but the action of the Home Department, while transferring him (from Taloja Jail) was questionable. He called for a thorough inquiry into the incident.

Prominent criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said that Shinde may have tried to end his life as the two charges filed against him showed enough evidence against him in the sexual harassment case.

A police officer said Shinde’s postmortem would reveal if he had been injured before.

Shinde’s parents met him at Taloja jail at 3:30 pm. He claimed to have received information about his death through a TV channel and not from the police.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from the feed of syndicated news agency – PTI)