Bombay High Court Calls For Fair Probe Into Badlapur Encounter Case; Questions Raised Over Police Actions

The Bombay High Court has ordered a comprehensive and unbiased investigation into the shooting death of Akshay Shinde, the accused in a Badlapur sexual assault case. During a hearing on Wednesday, the court raised significant concerns regarding the circumstances leading to the incident.

Bombay High Court Calls For Fair Probe Into Badlapur Encounter Case

A division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan questioned why the police did not attempt to subdue Shinde before using lethal force. They expressed skepticism about the claim that Shinde was able to seize a firearm from a police officer and open fire. The bench remarked, "If we find that the investigation is not being conducted properly, we will have to issue appropriate orders."

The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing for October 3, by which time police are expected to address a complaint from Shinde's father, who is seeking a First Information Report (FIR) against the police officers involved. The judges stressed that the investigation must be conducted fairly, stating, "If we find this is not the case, we will have to take appropriate action," as reported by PTI.

Additionally, the High Court directed that all relevant case documents be transferred immediately to the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) for a more thorough examination. The court raised concerns about delays in evidence preservation, warning that such delays could lead to public doubt and speculation.

The bench also queried the choice of targeting Shinde's head instead of aiming for his arms or legs, highlighting that while they are not casting suspicion at this moment, it is implausible that he managed to take a police officer's gun and fire it.

This scrutiny follows a petition filed by Anna Shinde, Akshay's father, alleging that his son was killed in a "fake encounter." The petition calls for the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the incident, with the High Court overseeing the investigation, as per media reports.

Shinde, 24, faced allegations of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra. He was being transported from Taloja jail to Badlapur in connection with an FIR filed by his former wife when the shooting occurred. Police reports indicate that Shinde was shot and killed near the Mumbra bypass in Thane after allegedly snatching a police gun during transport.

After injuring an Assistant Police Inspector (API), he was shot by another officer and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Kalwa Civic Hospital. The state government announced on Tuesday that the CID will conduct an investigation into Akshay Shinde's death.