Badlapur sexual assault case: HC raps CID for taking lightly probe into killing of accused
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday came down heavily on the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) for taking "lightly" the probe into the killing of Badlapur school sexual assault case accused in a shootout.
Stressing the need for a fair investigation in all cases, a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan said the conduct of the CID in the present case raises doubt and a wrong inference that it does not want to provide all information to the magistrate conducting inquiry into the shootout.
The accused, Akshay Shinde (24), was arrested in August for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur area of Maharashtra's Thane district. He was killed by police in a shootout on September 24.
The high court sarcastically remarked that cases are transferred from local police to the CID because of the latter's competence.
The HC was irked after noting certain loopholes in the probe and documents submitted to the magistrate who is conducting an inquiry into the accused's death.
"How can the state CID take it so lightly? This is a matter that concerns custodial death. What was expected from you (CID), now what to expect from you," the HC said.
The bench said the entire conduct of the CID raises doubt on the investigation and a "wrong and adverse" inference is drawn.
"Because of your conduct itself you are raising suspicion and doubt on yourself. What investigation are you conducting?" the court said.
The bench questioned as to why medical papers pertaining to the case were not collected.
"Why is the CID not collecting information properly and why are we forced to test it? Don't test our patience now. Medical papers are not collected. Are you deliberately trying to withhold information from the magistrate? That is the inference we are drawing," the HC said.
"Because of the CID's competence, cases are transferred to the state CID," it added.
The bench said its endeavour was to ensure all documents are collected and submitted to the magistrate for a proper inquiry to be done and for a report to be submitted.
"Investigate the case properly and submit all statements properly to the magistrate, only then the magistrate can prepare a proper report," the bench said.
The court noted that fairness has to be writ large in every investigation and even an accused and their family have rights.
The bench was informed that all documents and information have been submitted to the magistrate and whatever remains would be handed in one week.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on January 20, 2025, by when the magistrate would have to submit the report to the court.
As per police, accused Akshay Shinde forcibly took a pistol from one of the cops in a police van on September 24 when he was being taken from the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai to Thane for questioning in another case.
Shinde then shot three rounds inside the van, one of which hit and injured a police officer.
In retaliation, one shot was fired by another police officer which hit Shinde and he was killed.
The police claimed Shinde's handcuffs were removed as he had asked for water. He was given water from a bottle inside the van.
The probe into the killing was later handed over to the state CID.
Akshay Shinde's father Anna Shinde has filed a petition in the HC claiming his son was murdered in a fake encounter.
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Rahul Gandhi meets Pahalgam terror attack victim Lt Vinay Narwal's kin in Karnal
Chandigarh, May 6 (PTI): Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met the family members of Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Accompanied by senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad, who is the party's Haryana affairs in-charge, the LoP reached Karnal in Haryana in the afternoon.
Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, Congress' Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda and party leader Divyanshu Budhiraja were also present when Gandhi arrived.
After paying his tributes to the Naval officer upon reaching his residence, Gandhi spent more than one-and-a-half hours with Narwal's family.
Gandhi did not talk to the reporters who were waiting outside Lt Narwal's house. However, he later said on X, "I met the bereaved family of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal ji, who was martyred in the Pahalgam attack, shared their grief and consoled them. Their courage and bravery even in the face of immense grief is a message for the country - we have to remain united.
"The entire country stands with the families of the martyrs. The government has the full support of the opposition -- the culprits should be punished in such a way that no one dares to raise an eye toward India. Today, along with the victim families, the entire country is waiting for justice."
Speaking to reporters later, Hooda said Gandhi consoled the family. "Rahul Gandhi paid homage to martyr Narwal, talked separately to his family members and offered his condolences."
Haryana Congress chief Bhan told PTI that Gandhi consoled the family and shared their grief.
"He met with the family members, including his parents," said Bhan.
After meeting the family, Gandhi left for Delhi, he said.
Married three weeks ago, 26-year-old Lt Narwal, accompanied by his wife Himanshi, was on a honeymoon trip to Pahalgam when terrorists shot him at point blank on April 22.
A week ago, Gandhi had also visited the family members of Shubham Dwivedi, who was among the 26 people killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
Stressing that strict and concrete action should be taken against the terrorists, Gandhi had then said the united opposition had given full support to the government.
Besides those killed, several people were injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
पहलगाम हमले में शहीद हुए लेफ्टिनेंट विनय नरवाल जी के शोकाकुल परिवार से मिलकर उनका दुख बांटा, उन्हें सांत्वना दी। अपार दुख में भी उनका हौसला और साहस देश के लिए एक संदेश है - हमें एकजुट रहना है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 6, 2025
पूरा देश शहीदों के परिवारों के साथ खड़ा है। सरकार को विपक्ष का पूरा समर्थन है -…
