Mon May 05 08:49:53 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Orders New SIT Probe into Custodial Death in Maharashtra
**New Delhi, May 5, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India has directed the Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged custodial death of Akshay Shinde. Shinde, accused in the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls in Badlapur, Thane district, died in police custody last September.
The Court’s decision comes after the Maharashtra government appealed a Bombay High Court order from April, which mandated an SIT supervised by a Joint Commissioner of Police. While the state expressed no objection to an SIT, the Supreme Court opted to place the SIT’s formation under the direct control of the DGP, citing the seriousness of the allegations.
The High Court had previously identified inconsistencies in the police’s claim that Shinde was killed in retaliatory fire after attempting to seize an officer’s weapon. A magisterial inquiry also contradicted the police account, relying on forensic evidence. The High Court’s intervention followed a plea from Shinde’s parents, despite their initial hesitation to pursue the case.
The Supreme Court’s order modifies the High Court’s directive, transferring oversight of the investigation to the DGP. The Court clarified that Shinde’s parents retain the right to address any grievances through appropriate legal channels. The Supreme Court has since disposed of the special leave petitions filed by the State of Maharashtra. The case has sparked significant political controversy within the state.
First Piper 