- Thursday, December 26, 2024
While being ferried in a police vehicle, the accused had allegedly snatched the gun of a policeman and injured one of them. The police fired in retaliation.
By: Shajil Kumar
MAHARASHTRA’S Crime Investigation Department (CID) will conduct a probe into the death of Badlapur sexual assault case accused Akshay Shinde, officials said on Tuesday.
A team of forensic science experts on Tuesday examined the police vehicle, in which Shinde was allegedly shot by a cop on Monday evening, they said.
Shinde, 24, was accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane district.
A contractual sweeper at the school in Badlapur, Shinde was arrested on August 17, five days after he allegedly sexually abused the two girls in the school toilet.
He was killed near Mumbra bypass in Thane on Monday evening when he allegedly snatched the gun of a policeman while he was being ferried in a police vehicle as part of a probe into a case registered against him on the complaint of his former wife, an official earlier said.
After he shot and injured an API, another officer from the police escort team fired at him, and he was declared dead by doctors at the Kalwa civic hospital, the official said.
As the incident is concerning death in police custody, it will be investigated by the Maharashtra CID, a senior official said on Tuesday.
A team of CID officials will visit the spot at Mumbra bypass where the incident took place, he said, adding they will also record statements of police personnel who were in the vehicle at that time.
The CID officials will also record statements of Akshay Shinde’s parents, he said.
Akshay Shinde’s body was taken from the Kalwa civic hospital in Thane to the state-run J J Hospital for post-mortem on Tuesday morning.
The post-mortem will be conducted in-camera in the presence of expert doctors, the official said.
Family demands probe
Akshay Shinde’s father Anna Shinde has demanded an inquiry into his son’s killing.
His family members have challenged the police claim that he fired at a policeman first following which cops retaliated in self-defence, leading to his death.
State Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said police opened fire in self-defence, leading to Shinde’s death.
“Shinde’s former wife has accused him of sexual assault and lodged a complaint against him. Police were taking Shinde (to Badlapur) to investigate this complaint. He snatched the gun of a policeman and opened fire at officials. He also fired in the air. Police shot at him in retaliation,” Fadnavis said.
On September 3, the Bombay High Court told the police to build a “watertight” case and not file a chargesheet hurriedly under public pressure.
An encounter
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders expressed shock over the “encounter” and called for a detailed probe into the incident.
Asim Sarode, lawyer for the two minor girls Shinde allegedly sexually assaulted called his death a “killing of justice”.
“While representing the two minor girls, I noticed it was becoming uncomfortable for the local politics of the Thane district and even for the educational institution where Akshay Shinde was working. Shinde’s death in such a manner is killing of justice,” Sarode told a regional news channel.
“Now, the case of sexual assault of the two minor girls will get sidelined. The case of these two minor girls was becoming difficult for the educational institute, as it is affiliated with a certain political family. Such a practice would lower the confidence of people in police and the judiciary,” he claimed.
Sarode said he will be filing a plea before the Bombay High Court demanding a thorough inquiry into the firing incident.
“Shinde’s case could have brought up certain aspects that would have been negative politically for the government. I wonder how Shinde could access the gun and how he could unlock it when his hands were tied. This is political murder and is absolutely wrong,” he said.
Over a month ago massive protests erupted on streets and at Badlapur railway station over the alleged sexual abuse of two girls by Shinde.
The incidents took place on August 11-12 and Shinde was arrested on August 17.(PTI)
