Tue Sep 24 10:12:42 UTC 2024: ## Badlapur Rape Accused Shot Dead in Police Custody, Sparks Controversy

**Thane, Maharashtra:** A shocking incident has unfolded in Thane, where Akshay Shinde, a 24-year-old accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a Badlapur school, was shot dead in police custody. The incident occurred on Monday evening near Mumbra Bypass while Shinde was being transported to Badlapur from Taloja Jail for investigation in a case registered against him by his former wife.

According to official reports, Shinde allegedly snatched a policeman’s gun during the transport and fired at Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More, injuring him. In response, Sanjay Shinde, another officer in the police escort team, fired back, killing Shinde. Shinde and More were taken to Kalwa civic hospital where Shinde was declared dead.

The incident has sparked controversy, with Shinde’s family challenging the police version of events, alleging that their son was killed in an extrajudicial execution. Shinde’s father, Anna Shinde, has demanded an independent inquiry into his son’s death.

The investigation into the incident has been handed over to the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID), with a team of forensic science experts already examining the police vehicle. The CID will also record statements from the police personnel present during the incident, as well as Shinde’s family members.

Adding to the controversy, Sanjay Shinde, the officer who shot Shinde, has a past connection with suspended former ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma. Shinde reportedly worked under Sharma in the anti-extortion cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch and was part of the team that arrested gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, Iqbal Kaskar.

Sharma, who was known for his role in high-profile encounters in the 1990s, is currently serving a life sentence for a fake encounter case. Shinde was previously suspended after murder accused Vijay Palande escaped police custody. He was accused of aiding Palande’s escape and was later reinstated by the Mumbai Police in 2014.

The CID investigation will determine the exact sequence of events leading to Shinde’s death and will be crucial in addressing concerns about potential police misconduct. The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the issue of extrajudicial killings and the need for accountability within law enforcement.

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