'Our police won't clap if attacked...': Fadnavis on Badlapur case
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the shooting of the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case was done in self-defense. He added, "Our police will not clap if attacked." During his address at the India Today Mumbai Conclave, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said, "We do not believe in encounters and I personally believe that the rule of law must be followed." Fadnavis said that it is important not to glorify such incidents.
Why does this story matter?
Akshay Shinde (24)—accused of raping two four-year-old girls in Badlapur town of Thane district—was killed during a police transfer from Taloja jail to Thane Police Station on Monday evening. He had allegedly snatched a constable's gun and opened fire. Notably, Akshay's mother, Alka Shinde, has disputed the Thane police's version of events. She alleged that her son's killing was orchestrated by some political leaders.
Opposition alleges political motives behind police encounter
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis of staging the encounter to shield Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliates linked to the same institution as the accused. Raut further claimed that the Maharashtra government is using the police encounter for political advantage, alleging that both the CM and his Deputy are in a "race to take credit for the situation," according to a report by ANI.
What Bombay HC said on the encounter
The Bombay High Court has expressed doubts over the police encounter involving Akshay. Justice Prithviraj Chavan questioned how a physically weak individual could fire a pistol or quickly unlock a revolver. "Why was the accused shot in the head directly and not in the legs or arms first... He wasn't a huge, built up or strong man. This is very difficult to accept," he said.
Father of accused demands special investigation
Anna Shinde, father of the accused, has filed a petition for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into his son's death. He alleges that his son was killed in a fake encounter. The court has ordered all case documents to be transferred to the state CID for investigation and questioned the delay in this transfer. The next hearing is scheduled for October 3.
Encounter sparks controversy ahead of Assembly elections
The incident has ignited a political firestorm between the ruling Mahayuti government and opposition, particularly as Maharashtra is gearing up for Assembly elections later this year. To recall, a day after the encounter, posters featuring Fadnavis with a revolver and gun under the phrase 'Badla Pura' (revenge completed) were seen across Mumbai.
