Badlapur assault case: Thane crime branch shoots accused Akshay Shinde after he snatched officer's gun

The public outcry over the assaults prompted the Maharashtra government to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

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Bhaskar Chakravorty
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CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have also commented on the incident, highlighting the escape attempt. (X)

Maharashtra News: Akshay Shinde, the man accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur, was shot dead by police after he snatched an officer's revolver and fired at them during transit. The incident occurred on the Mumbra bypass in Thane district on Monday evening, as Shinde was being taken from Taloja Jail to Thane for further investigation.

The Thane Crime Branch had taken Shinde into custody based on a fresh case filed by his wife. As the vehicle approached the Mumbra bypass, Shinde managed to grab the revolver of one of the officers and fired two to three rounds, injuring an officer. In response, another officer opened fire, fatally wounding Shinde. CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have also commented on the incident, highlighting the escape attempt. Meanwhile, according to a reports, the family member's of Akshay has denied taking over the dead body and claimed that this could have been an enounter as the convict as per family didn't knew how to use a gun. 

Protests over Badlapur assault

Shinde’s arrest came after massive protests erupted in Badlapur last month when it was revealed that two young girls had been sexually assaulted by him at their school. Shinde, 23, had been employed on a contractual basis to clean the school’s toilets. Within just 10 days of his hiring, he allegedly assaulted the girls in the school’s restroom on different days.

The public outcry over the assaults prompted the Maharashtra government to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also ordered the immediate suspension of several police officers from the Badlapur Police Station for delaying action in the case. The school management took disciplinary action as well, suspending the principal, a class teacher, and a female attendant following the incident. The Bombay High Court, hearing the case earlier this month, stressed the importance of a thorough investigation, instructing the police not to rush the charge sheet under public pressure.