Badlapur School Case LIVE: Bombay HC Begins Hearing, Asks For FIR And Documents
Badlapur School Case LIVE Updates: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on sexual assault on two nursery class girls that sparked outrage in Maharashtra.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said: "We have declared a Maharashtra bandh on 24th August in protest against the atrocities on girls in Badlapur. If girls are not safe in school then what is the meaning of 'Mulgi Shikli, Pragati Jhali'? Last week, demonstrations were held across the country regarding the incident that happened in Bengal. The bandh we have called is not politically motivated. Just like we fight against Corona...We have to fight against the distorted mentality."
The court asked if the minor girls' statements have been recorded under Section 164. The response is that only their statements have been recorded, but not under Section 164.
The court questioned whether the school took any action after the girls complained. If not, has any action been taken against the school. It also pointed out that the school authorities should have been made parties in the case for not reporting the crime under POCSO.
The court flagged that action against the school authorities should have been taken immediately after the FIR was registered.
During the hearing, the court also asked if counseling is being provided to the minor girls and stressed that the state's efforts towards counseling the victims should be disclosed.
The hearing began at Bombay High Court over the Badlapur sexual assault case. SIT Chief Special IG Aarti Singh and Thane Additional Commissioner reached the court. Advocate General Biren Saraf and Special PP Hiten Venegaonkar are also present in the court.
Saraf told the court that SIT began its investigation from Wednesday and the statements will be recorded today.
The court was given a copy of the case diary and FIR and Saraf said that the medical examination of both the minors has been done.
Accused Akshay Shinde's family has refuted reports of him marrying three times and having three wives. Speaking to ABP Majha, Akshay's father dismissed any such report saying. "Akshay got married three times, this story is false. It has been only fifteen days since Akshay started working," his father said.
Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh cornered the current home minister, Devendra Fadnavis asking where is he missing for two days.
"Where is the Home Minister of Maharashtra State missing for two days? Such a sensitive incident has happened in Badlapur, when will the Home Minister respond to this!" he said in a post on X.
Thane Police Crime Branch have reached the school where the alleged sexual assault took place against two four-year-old girls, reports ABP News correspondent Suraj Ojha.
Maharashtra government has issued guidelines to District Collector of Mumbai Suburban ensuring the safety of women and children in schools. In a letter, Cabinet minister and Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburban District Mangal Prabaht Lodha stated that self-defence training will be provided to young women in all Industrial Training Institutes across the state and in schools/colleges in the Mumbai Suburban area from September 1.
The minister also said that the entire school premises except the washrooms should be brought under the surveillance of CCTV cameras.
In case of emergency, in the school, children/students should be encouraged to report the incident to the 1098 helpline number, the minister said.
People in Badlapur's Kharwai village stormed into the house of sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde on Wednesday and vandalised the property. The villagers barged into the 'chaul' where Akshay's family lived and evicted the family members from the village, reported ABP Majha.
Toys were found from Akshay's house when the villagers stormed there and the special investigation team, formed by Maharashtra government to probe the incident, is likely to conduct an investigation over it.
Akshay's family hails from Gulbarga district in Karnataka and lives in the chaul in Kharwai village where he was born. There are four members in his family, including his parents and a younger brother.
On Wednesday, the court had extended Akshay's police custody till August 26.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar called the Badlapur incident as "unfortunate" and said that the protests in its aftermath showed people's anger. "What happened in Badlapur yesterday (protest on railway tracks) was an angry reaction of people," he said.
Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai has claimed that the protest staged at Badlapur railway station was done by outsiders and probe is on the find who was behind the violent protests.
Bombay High Court took suo motu cognizance of the Badlapur incident and will hear the matter today, according to Live Law.
Background
Badlapur School Case LIVE Updates: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on sexual assault on two nursery class girls that sparked outrage in Maharashtra. The opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance have been training guns on Maharashtra government over the incident. On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP) slammed the Eknath Shinde government after FIRs were registered against 300 people who participated in the 'rail roko' protest at Badlapur railway station to demand justice for the victim.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi dubbed the Maharashtra government as "shameless" while the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party called it an "unconstitutional" government.
"Reverse FIR. Imagine families desperate to seek justice for their daughters were forced to hit the streets because of government apathy and after being lathi charged, they are being FIRed and arrested. Shameless Maharashtra government," said Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.
"...Yesterday, FIRs have been filed against 300 people protesting against the Badlapur incident...This is an unconstitutional government," said NCP (SCP) leader Jitendra Awhad.
The MVA also announced 'Maharashtra Bandh' for August 24 to protest against the incident and registration of FIRs.
"The people of Maharashtra are agitated and FIRs have been registered against those who protested. We have decided that on August 24, MVA will call for Maharashtra Bandh over the Badlapur incident," announced Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla affirmed the police force's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens by going the extra mile.
The DGP stated that the investigation into the Badlapur case is being conducted with the utmost diligence. "We will leave no stone unturned in delivering justice to innocent children and their families, Shukla said in a statement on X.
Two nursery class girls were sexually assaulted by a 23-year-old male cleaning staff in a school in Badlapur after which the incident sparked outrage among various quarters in the state.
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