Badlapur Sexual Assault Case: Bombay High Court Rejects Bail For Two Accused, Questions SIT's Handling

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant pre-arrest bail to the chairman and secretary of the school in Maharashtra's Badlapur where two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by now deceased male attendant Akshay Shinde.

Justice RN Laddha, presiding over the case, has highlighted the grave implications of the assault on the victim's psychological well-being, emphasizing the long-lasting trauma such experiences can inflict on minors.

The male attendant allegedly assaulted two young girls, aged four and five, in the washroom of a Badlapur school located in Maharashtra's Thane district.

"The victims are minors. The trauma that they have endured can profoundly affect their adolescent years leaving them with lasting psychological scars. It is undisputed that applicants are persons responsible for managing the school," the court said.

"There is prima facie material indicating that the victims parents' had voiced their grievances to the class teacher and other staff members. The applicants were aware of the incident before August 16. Despite having knowledge, they did not report the incident to police," the High Court added.

During the proceedings, the court criticized the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for its failure to apprehend the accused school officials. Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan expressed bafflement at the police's inability to arrest the individuals, questioning the delay and suggesting it might be due to the anticipation of anticipatory bail. The Advocate General informed the court that efforts were being made to capture the fugitives, with the matter scheduled for further hearing on October 23.

Moreover, the high court elaborated on concerns raised by the victims' parents, who had reported their grievances to the class teacher and other staff members. It was pointed out that despite being informed about the incident well before it became public knowledge, the accused did not take the necessary steps to report the crime to the police. This negligence highlights a troubling disregard for the welfare of the students and the legal requirements for reporting such crimes.