" There seem to be issues" Bombay HC begins hearing plea on police encounter of Badlapur sexual assault accused
Sep 25, 2024
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 25 : The Bombay High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concerns over the police encounter of Badlapur sexual assault accused, Akshay Shinde saying "It is difficult to believe this. Prima facie there seem to be issues."
Justice Chavan said "It is difficult to believe this. Prima facie there seem to be issues. A common man can't fire a pistol because it needs strength. a revolver can't be unlocked quickly by a physically weak man. It is not very easy."
Akshay Shinde's father Anna Shinde files a petition in Bombay High Court demanding a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged encounter of his son. Anna Shinde, in his petition filed through advocate Amit Katranware, has alleged that his son was killed in a fake encounter.
Bombay High Court directed for all case papers to be immediately handed over to the state CID which will be conducting a probe into Shinde's death.
"Why are the files not handed over to the CID yet?," Court questioned.
The Court said while it was not raising any suspicion at this stage, it was very hard to believe that Akshay Shinde managed to seize a pistol from a police officer and open fire. Bombay High Court has set October 3 as next date of hearing in this case.
The 23-year-old accused was arrested on August 17, five days after he allegedly sexually abused two girls in a school toilet.
The former school janitor was being brought from Taloja Central Jail to Thane Crime branch office under transit remand when he opened fire on the police with their revolver near the Mumbra bypass. The central unit of the Thane Crime branch had taken custody of the accused in a case that was filed against him by his ex-wife.
According to information received from Thane Police, Shinde snatched the weapon from a police official and opened fire on him during a bid to escape police custody. He was taken to hospital where he died. Shinde's body was transferred from Kalwa Civic Hospital in Thane to the JJ Hospital for a post-mortem on Tuesday.
Shinde's death has sparked a controversy between the ruling Mahayuti government and the opposition in Maharashtra which is headed for Assembly polls later this year.
