Badlapur assault case: Bombay high court agrees to urgent hearing for plea filed by accused's father
PTC News Desk: The Bombay High Court granted an urgent hearing on Friday regarding a plea filed by the father of Akshay Shinde, the individual accused in the sexual assault case involving minors from Badlapur, who was shot dead by the Thane Police in what has been described as a 'fake' encounter, according to reports from Live Law.
The father of Akshay Shinde has submitted an application to the Bombay High Court, seeking assistance from the chief officer of the Ambernath municipal council for land to bury his son. A bench consisting of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice MM Sathaye is scheduled to hear this matter at 1 pm.
In addition, the family of Akshay Shinde is requesting police protection for the safety of their family members during the last rites. Amar Shinde, Akshay's uncle, spoke to the media on Thursday, indicating that the family has not yet selected a burial site and highlighting their concerns for the safety of Akshay's parents and their lawyer due to perceived threats.
Akshay Shinde's attorney, Amit Katarnavre, informed the news agency PTI that the 24-year-old had previously expressed a preference for burial over cremation. On Wednesday, Akshay's father notified the Bombay High Court that while the family was prepared to claim his body, they were encountering difficulties in finding a suitable burial location.
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The public prosecutor reassured the court that a deputy commissioner of police from the Thane crime branch would assist the family in making the necessary arrangements.
During the hearing of the petition, the Bombay High Court raised significant concerns about the police shooting, suggesting that the situation could have been handled differently and emphasising the importance of a thorough and impartial investigation. A division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan critically examined the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the police's conduct.
In his petition, Akshay's father has challenged the police's claim that Akshay opened fire on an officer while being transported for questioning, which allegedly led to his death in retaliatory gunfire. The petition asserts that Akshay was killed in a “fake encounter” and calls for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Akshay Shinde was arrested last month for the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur. He was shot and killed on Monday evening while being taken to Badlapur for further questioning.
Advocate Katarnavre also voiced concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the charge sheet filed against Akshay, noting that the family has not received a copy of the document. He remarked, “One will come to know what was his role in the crime only from the charge sheet. How did the government decide he is the culprit?”
- With inputs from agencies
