'Now there is no fight between us (Thackerays); now the fight is with them.'
A magistrate's inquiry has found five policemen responsible for the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, who was accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case. The Bombay High Court ordered an FIR to be registered against the five policemen, following the magistrate's report. Shinde was arrested in August 2024 for allegedly assaulting two minor girls and was killed in an alleged police shootout in September while being taken from prison for questioning. The police claimed he snatched a gun and opened fire, but the magistrate found the five officers responsible for his death. The court has asked the public prosecutor to inform the bench in two weeks on which probe agency will investigate the case.
The Bombay high court on Monday ordered a first information report (FIR) against five policemen for the custodial death of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde, allegedly shot dead in a police van in September 2024, and setting up of an Special Investigation Team, noting that a prima facie offence is disclosed.
The Bombay High Court expressed its dismay over the Maharashtra government's failure to register an FIR against five policemen involved in the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, despite an explicit court order. The court, alleging a deliberate attempt to disregard its directives, threatened contempt proceedings against senior CID officers for non-compliance. The case pertains to Shinde's death while in police custody, accused of sexually assaulting two kindergarten girls in Badlapur. An inquiry report by a magistrate indicted the five policemen, suggesting a possible fake encounter. The court emphasized the importance of following the rule of law and stated that the government's inaction would send a detrimental message to society.
A team of forensic science experts on Tuesday examined the police vehicle, in which Shinde was allegedly shot by a cop on Monday evening, they said. Shinde, 24, was accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane district.
There is no action against the "BJP-linked" school management but an arrested accused is shot dead in suspicious circumstances, he said, adding "we have no trust in Badlapur police".
A suspended police sub-inspector from Beed, Maharashtra, India, has alleged that he was offered money to carry out an "encounter" of Walmik Karad, an accused in the murder case of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The suspended cop, Ranjeet Kasle, claims he mentioned the names of the individuals who made the offer in a local police station diary. However, a senior police official from Beed has dismissed Kasle's claims as baseless and demanded proof. Kasle was suspended earlier while serving as a sub-inspector in the local cyber crime department. Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, was abducted and killed last December allegedly for attempting to stop extortion targeting an energy company. Karad is among eight individuals arrested in connection with the murder and charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The state Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed a chargesheet in the case last month. Kasle's claims come amidst ongoing investigations into the custodial death of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde. Kasle has demanded a central government SIT to investigate Shinde's death, believing it will reveal the truth.
The family members of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde have challenged the police claim that he fired at a policeman first following which cops fired in self-defence which led to his death.
An official said Akshay Shinde, who worked as a cleaner at the school, was being taken to Badlapur from Taloja jail for investigation.
At 6.15 pm, when the van reached the base of Mumbra Devi temple on Mumbra bypass, Akshay suddenly tried to pull out API More's pistol, the complaint said.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and MM Sathaye said once the spot is identified, the police shall inform Shinde's family members about it so that the burial can be done.
An SIT should be formed to probe the killing and the high court should monitor the investigation, the petition demanded.
The Bombay High Court has criticized the Maharashtra CID for its "lackadaisical" probe into the killing of the Badlapur school sexual assault case accused, Akshay Shinde, in an alleged police shootout on September 23. The court pointed to several lacunae in the investigation, including the lack of gunshot residue on Shinde's hands and fingerprints on the water bottle he was given. The court directed the CID to complete the probe in two weeks and submit all relevant material to the magistrate.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan questioned as to how the police, that usually go to any extent to nab an accused, are unable to arrest them in this case.
The Bombay high court on Wednesday said the probe into the killing of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde in a shoot-out should be carried out in a fair and impartial manner.
A division bench led by Justice Nitin Jamdar said the MPCB order was set aside for being 'disproportionate' and noted the order was passed in a 'hasty manner'.
The activists argued that an appeal would be filed in the apex court on Monday but by then the MMRCL would have completed cutting all the trees in the colony.