Mon Sep 23 19:32:23 UTC 2024: ## Accused in Badlapur School Sexual Assault Case Dies in Police Custody
**Thane, Maharashtra:** Akshay Shinde, the accused in the high-profile Badlapur school sexual assault case, died on Monday after being shot by police in a retaliatory firing. Shinde, who was being transported from Taloja Jail to Badlapur for investigation, snatched a policeman’s gun and opened fire inside the police vehicle.
According to police sources, Shinde fired at an assistant police inspector before being shot himself. He was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition but succumbed to his injuries.
The incident sparked immediate controversy, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defending the police action as self-defence. He emphasized that Shinde had attacked the police and fired shots in the air. Fadnavis also highlighted the fact that Shinde’s ex-wife had filed a complaint against him for sexual assault, which is why police were taking him for investigation.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed Fadnavis’s statement, highlighting the police officer who was injured during the incident and assuring that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
The incident comes amidst public outrage over the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur in August. Shinde, a 24-year-old male attendant at the school, was arrested following widespread protests and allegations of repeated abuse over a 15-day period. The incident exposed a lack of security protocols at the school and raised concerns about the background checks conducted on staff.
The Maharashtra government promised strict action against the perpetrator and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The trial in the case was also promised to be held at a Fast Track court.
The death of the accused in police custody is likely to raise further questions about the incident and police procedures. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
First Piper 