Maharashtra: Self-defence or cover-up? Badlapur sexual assault case accused killed in police ‘retaliatory’ firing, Opposition cries foul

Akshay Shinde, accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur town of Maharashtra, died in retaliatory firing by police after he snatched a cop’s pistol and opened fire on Monday, an official said.

The incident took place around 6:15 PM when Shinde, 24, was being transported from Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai to Badlapur in Thane district in a police vehicle. Upon reaching the Mumbra bypass, Shinde allegedly snatched a police officer’s pistol and fired two to three shots, injuring Assistant Police Inspector (API) Nilesh More. In response, another officer fired back, critically injuring Shinde, reports PTI.

Shinde was rushed to a hospital in Kalwa, where he later succumbed to his injuries. API Nilesh More, who was injured in the exchange, is currently receiving treatment, according to officials. The vehicle was carrying four policemen and Shinde at the time of the shootout.

This incident comes over a month after large protests broke out in Badlapur, including at the local railway station, following Shinde’s arrest for the alleged sexual assault of two young girls at a school where he worked as a sweeper.

As news of Shinde’s death spread, residents in Badlapur were seen setting off celebratory fireworks on Monday night. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and State Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that the police fired in self-defence, resulting in Shinde’s death.

“Akshay Shinde’s former wife has accused him of sexual assault and complained to him. Police were taking Shinde (to Badlapur) to investigate this complaint. He snatched the gun of a policeman and opened fire at officials. He also fired in the air. Police shot at him in retaliation,” Fadnavis said.

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

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

Opposition Demands Investigation into ‘Encounter’

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders expressed shock over the “encounter” and called for a detailed probe into the incident.  CM Shinde said Akshay’s ex-wife had accused him of sexual violence and the police were taking him for a probe regarding these allegations.

“He snatched the gun of a policeman and opened fire. Police fired back in self-defence,” he told reporters.

However, the opposition leaders asked if Akshay Shinde was killed to destroy evidence in a case that had triggered national outrage.

Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan alleged that the “encounter” was orchestrated to protect “other individuals.” Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, called the incident “shocking” and insisted on a judicial investigation. State Congress president Nana Patole speculated that the “encounter” might have been intended to shield the school trustees, who remain unarrested.

Akshay Shinde’s uncle told a Marathi TV channel that during a visit to Taloja jail on Monday, his nephew said police were regularly beating him. Wadettiwar questioned if the encounter was an attempt to destroy evidence, asking how Shinde, allegedly handcuffed, could grab a gun and why police were so careless. He demanded a judicial inquiry, also pointing out that no action had been taken against the “BJP-linked” school management, while Shinde was shot under suspicious circumstances.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare likened the incident to the 2019 killing of four rape suspects in Telangana, where the truth never surfaced due to the deaths. She questioned whether Shinde was hiding something more sinister and why the school management remains unapprehended. Andhare also raised doubts about how Shinde, supposedly handcuffed, could have operated the firearm.

In response, CM Eknath Shinde criticised the opposition for previously calling for Shinde’s hanging, but now defending him and questioning the police. He labelled this shift as condemnable. When asked about claims that Shinde’s death was politically motivated, the CM dismissed them, accusing the opposition of making baseless allegations out of frustration over the state’s successful “Majhi Ladki Bahin” scheme.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis echoed these sentiments, noting that the opposition had earlier wanted Shinde hanged, and criticized their current stance given the police acted to save lives.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar expressed concern over the Home Department’s handling of Shinde’s transfer, saying Shinde should have been hanged legally, but called for an in-depth investigation into the shooting. Prominent criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam suggested Shinde might have been attempting to end his own life, as the evidence against him was strong.

A police officer stated that Shinde’s postmortem would reveal if he had sustained previous injuries. Shinde’s parents, who visited him at 3:30 PM on the day of the incident, claimed they learned of his death through television news rather than directly from the police.