Akshay Shinde, Badlapur Sexual Assault Accused, Killed In Exchange Of Fire

Badlapur Sexual Assault: Akshay Shinde, who was the key accused in Maharashtra ’s Badlapur sexual assault case, was reportedly killed in exchange of fire. According to sources, the shootout took place inside a police vehicle on Monday. One police personnel was also injured in the fire exchange.

Akshay Shinde was accused of sexually abusing two girls at a school in Badlapur town of Maharashtra 's Thane district.

According to police, Shinde, who was being taken to Badlapur from Taloja jail for investigation fired at a policeman and was injured in retaliatory firing. An official said Akshay Shinde was working as a cleaner at the school.

When the police vehicle reached Mumbra bypass, Shinde snatched a policeman’s gun and fired at an assistant police inspector. Shinde was injured in retaliatory firing, the official said. He later succumbed to injuries.

The two minors were allegedly abused in the school toilet on August 12. The accused was arrested on August 17.

Victims lawyer speaks up

The gunning down of Badlapur case accused Akshay Shinde was the "killing of justice", said Asim Sarode, lawyer for the two minor girls he allegedly sexually assaulted.

Shinde was killed near Mumbra Bypass around 6:15 pm when he allegedly snatched the gun of a policeman while he was being ferried in a police vehicle as part of a probe into a case registered on the complaint of his former wife.

After he shot and injured an API, another personnel from the escort team fired at him, and he was declared dead by doctors at a nearby hospital.

"While representing the two minor girls, I noticed it was becoming uncomfortable for the local politics of the Thane district and even for the educational institution where Akshay Shinde was working. Shinde's death in such a manner is killing of justice," Sarode said.

"Now, the case of sexual assault of the two minor girls will get sidelined. The case of these two minor girls was becoming difficult for the educational institute, as it is affiliated with a certain political family. Such a practice would lower the confidence of people in police and the judiciary," he claimed.

Sarode said he will be filing a plea before the Bombay High Court demanding thorough inquiry into the firing incident.

"Shinde's case could have brought up certain aspects that would have been negative politically for the government. I wonder how Shinde could access the gun and how he could unlock it when his hands were tied. This is political murder and is absolutely wrong," he said.

With inputs from PTI