The accused in Badlapur school sexual assault case, Akshay Shinde was arrested on August 17. (Image: News18 Marathi)
The family of the accused, Akshay Shinde, called the incident an “encounter” and sought justice while the Maharashtra government said cops acted in “self-defence” even as the opposition demanded a thorough probe
The death of the Badlapur sex assault accused in police custody, has snowballed into a major political controversy in Maharashtra. Akshay Shinde’s family called the incident an “encounter” and sought justice while the Maharashtra government said cops acted in “self-defence” even as the opposition demanded a thorough probe and questioned the chain of events.
Thane police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre has formed an eight-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident, which took place near Mumbra Bypass when the accused was being taken to Badlapur from Taloja jail for an investigation around 6.15 pm on Monday (September 23).
The panel will be headed by additional police commissioner Punjabrao Ugle and comprises two deputy commissioners of police, two assistant commissioners of police and two police inspectors.
After a ‘panchnama’, Akshay Shinde’s body was brought to JJ Hospital for a post-mortem. His mother and uncle alleged it was a conspiracy by the police and management of the Badlapur school, where the accused worked as a sweeper and had allegedly sexually assaulted two students. His father, Anna Shinde, said an inquiry should be conducted into his son’s killing.
Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Akshay’s mother and uncle questioned the police version and asserted he could not have snatched the weapon of a policeman. They claimed that the accused had told them he was being beaten up in custody and had also sent a chit seeking money.
“The police have killed our child. The school management must also be probed. The police got him to write something but we don’t know what it is,” his mother said. “My son was afraid of bursting crackers and crossing the road. How can he shoot at policemen?”
Akshay allegedly snatched the gun of a policeman while he was being ferried in a police vehicle as part of a probe into a case registered on the complaint of his former wife. After he shot and injured an assistant police inspector, another personnel from the escort team fired at him, and he was declared dead by doctors at Kalwa civil hospital.
“I met him yesterday. He was fine at that time. He asked me when he will be released, and I said in a month. He told me to send money for food and gave me a number to send it to. He had a piece of paper in his hand and told me to look at what was written on it. An hour later, they carried out an encounter on him,” the mother alleged.
“He had gone to work at the school; I don’t know what happened there. He didn’t even know how to drive a car, how could he fire such a big gun? Those who killed my child should be punished too. We want justice,” she added.
(With PTI inputs)
