Maharashtra: Thane Police Arrests Two Accused School Trustees In Badlapur Sexual Assault Case

The Thane Police have apprehended two school trustees linked to the Badlapur sexual assault case. This action follows the Bombay High Court's refusal to grant them pre-arrest bail. The court had criticised the police for their delay in arresting these individuals, who are now in custody.

On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court denied anticipatory bail to the trustees and reprimanded the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for not capturing them sooner. Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan expressed surprise at the police's failure to arrest them despite usually being diligent in such matters.

Trustees Arrested Amidst Legal Obligations

The high court highlighted that there was evidence suggesting the trustees knew about the incident before August 16 but did not report it. Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA), there is a legal duty to report any known offences, which they failed to fulfil.

The Thane crime branch arrested the trustees in Karjat. They will be handed over to the SIT investigating the alleged sexual assault of two young girls at a Badlapur school in August. The main accused, Akshay Shinde, was killed in a police encounter on September 23.

Details of the Incident

Two girls, aged four and five, were assaulted by a male attendant in a school washroom in Badlapur, Maharashtra. Akshay Shinde, a 24-year-old sweeper at the school, was arrested on August 17 after public outrage over these allegations.

Shinde was killed during a police shoot-out on September 23 after injuring an assistant inspector. In retaliation, another officer shot him, leading to his death at Kalwa civil hospital, according to police reports.

This case has drawn significant attention due to its severity and subsequent legal proceedings. The involvement of school officials has raised questions about accountability and responsibility within educational institutions.