The death of Akshya Shinde, accused of sexually assaulting two four-year-old girls in a school toilet in Maharashtra's Badlapur, has snowballed into a controversy as the Opposition alleged foul play. Demanding a judicial probe into the incident, Leader of opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar alleged, "It might be an attempt to protect the people related to BJP and RSS by killing the main accused.."
The accused was killed in retaliatory firing after he snatched the gun of a constable and opened fire on the police while being transferred from the Taloja jail to the Thane police station, police said. An Special Investigation Team has been formed to investigate the case and the forensic team is investigating the vehicle in which the encounter took place.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde justified the police action, saying "these parties are rattled" by the success of his government's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme.
"He (Akshay Shinde) was taken for investigation as his ex-wife has registered a case of sexual assault. He fired on a police personnel, Nilesh More who got injured and has been admitted to hospital. Police in self-defence took that action. More information will come out after investigation," Shinde said.
Opposition Questions Everything: Fadnavis
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said the Opposition questions everything. "The same opposition was asking to hang him. If he had attacked the police, wouldn't the police do the self-defence? It's wrong to create any issue out of it," he added.
Massive protests had erupted in Badlapur, a town in Thane, last month after the two girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by Akshay Shinde in Thane's Badlapur. The school had appointed him on a contractual basis to clean their toilets on August 1. The two minors were allegedly abused in the school toilet on August 12, following which he was arrested on August 17.
The Bombay High Court on September 3 told the police to build a "watertight" case and do not file a charge sheet hurriedly under public pressure.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar criticised the state home ministry over the incident. "The laxity shown by the Home Department in transferring the main accused in this incident is questionable. It seems that the government has become weak," he wrote on X.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare said the incident was similar to what happened in the Telangana gangrape case in 2019, where four rape accused were killed by police. "There too the police claimed it was done in self-defence. However, due to the deaths, the truth never came out. The same will be the case with the Badlapur sexual assault. Was Akshay Shinde killed as he was hiding something more sinister? Why is the school management still on the run," she added.
My Son Was Afraid Of Bursting Crackers And Crossing Road
His family members said he was killed as part of politics. His father Anna Shinde demanded an inquiry into his son’s killing. Akshay's mother and uncle alleged it was a conspiracy by police and management of the Badlapur school.
They claimed Akshay Shinde had told his kin that he was being beaten up police in custody and he also sent a chit seeking money.
His mother and uncle questioned the police version and asserted he could not have snatched the weapon of a policeman. "My son was afraid of bursting crackers and crossing the road. How can he shoot at policemen?" Akshay Shinde's mother asked.