Mumbai —The probe by the magistrate has indicated the five police officers were responsible for the custodial death of one Akshay Shinde-the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case. This finding will allow for the registration of the FIR against the officers involved.
Details of the Incident
Akshay Shinde, a 24-year-old janitor of a school in Badlapur, was arrested in August 2024 on charges of sexual assault of two minor girls within the school’s premises. While being transported from Taloja prison to the Thane crime branch for questioning on September 23, Shinde was declared dead at 7:52 p.m. at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital in Kalwa. The police claimed that Shinde had snatched a firearm from one of the officers during transit, which led to a scuffle that resulted in him being shot and killed.
Findings of the Inquiry
The magistrate’s inquiry report, submitted to the Bombay High Court, has found that the force used by the five police officers was uncalled for. Officers in question have been named as:
- Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Shinde of the Thane Crime Branch
- Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More
- Head Constables Abhijeet More and Harish Tawade
- A police driver
The inquiry put in evidence that the police officers in question could have controlled Shinde without the use of lethal force against him. Notably, the forensic evidence showed that Shinde’s fingerprints were not on the alleged firearm, nor did he have gunshot residue on his hands, casting doubt on whether Shinde’s death could have resulted from actual fighting.
Legal Implications
With the findings of the inquiry, the Bombay High Court ordered the state to register a case and open a full-fledged investigation into the death in custody against the five police officers. The court has insistently laid enormous emphasis on following the procedure in accordance with the law and establishing accountability in custodial deaths.
Public Angry Protests
The incident has incited mass outrage and protests in Badlapur and nearby areas. The protesters have taken the stand against custodial death of victims while seeking justice for this incident and accountability from the police officers concerned.
To put a lid on the unrest, authorities placed restrictions on the Internet and ordered schools to be closed.
The magistrate’s probe into the custodial death of Akshay Shinde has raised foremost considerations of police conduct, including neglect in caring for inmates. The impending trial would be closely watched as it would bear great weight on the accountability of the police staff and the defense of personal liberties inside the criminal justice system.
