Bombay HC Raises Red Flag: 'Foul Play' Suspected In Custodial Death

Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, supported the Thane Police on Thursday over the encounter with the accused of sexual assault in Badlapur, claiming that he was shot in "Self-Defence." He said that in the event of an attack, the police would "Not Clap."

We don't believe in encounters, and I personally think that the law should be upheld and the offender should be punished as a result. We have to get on with this right away. However, if our police are attacked, they won't applaud, Devendra Fadnavis said.

In an alleged shoot-out with police earlier this week, Akshay Shinde—who had been detained for allegedly molesting two four-year-old kids sexually at a Badlapur school restroom—was slain. During Akshay Shinde's transfer from Taloja Central Jail to the Thane Crime branch office on transit remand for another case, he opened fire on the police officers using their revolver close to the Mumbra bypass.

Posters with the words "Badla Pura" (revenge accomplished) with Devendra Fadnavis brandishing a gun and revolver surfaced all over Mumbai the day following the incident. The deputy chief minister responded by telling the TV channel that this is "Absolutely wrong" and that "Glorification of such incidents should not happen."

He went on to say that the event would be fairly investigated by the state CID. The Mahayuti government, led by Eknath Shinde, and the opposition in Maharashtra were embroiled in a dispute over Akshay Shinde's encounter. Shinde's family and the opposition have voiced scepticism regarding the police account of the encounter.

The Bombay High Court criticised the Maharashtra Police over Akshay Shinde's death while in custody, stating that it seemed like foul play and that an unbiased investigation was necessary. The High Court also expressed concern about why the police did not attempt to subdue Akshay Shinde before the shootout, noting that it may have been prevented.

"What made the accused shoot himself in the head instead of first hitting his legs or arms? The others might have easily overwhelmed him the instant he pulled the first trigger. He was not a large, powerful, or well-built man. It is quite challenging to accept this.” This cannot be said to constitute an interaction, Judge Prithviraj Chavan declared.

Author:
Aarya Kadam (News Writer) is a final-year BBA student and a creative writer with a passion for current affairs and legal Judgments.