The Bombay High Court on Friday criticized the Maharashtra government for failing to register an FIR against five police officers involved in the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, despite a clear directive from the court. Shinde, a suspect in the Badlapur school sexual assault case, died under suspicious circumstances, sparking legal and public outcry.
The court’s frustration stemmed from its April 7 order, which mandated the registration of an FIR after finding prima facie evidence of a crime. Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale, presiding over the bench, expressed dismay over the non-compliance by state authorities.
In a move to ensure rigorous investigation, the High Court had previously formed a special investigation team headed by Lakhmi Gautam, Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime. Additionally, it directed the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), initially handling the probe into Shinde’s death, to transfer all relevant documents to Gautam within two days—a directive evidently ignored by the authorities.
“This is a brazen violation of our order. How can the state government not follow the orders passed by the high court?” remarked Justice Dere, indicating the court’s readiness to initiate criminal contempt proceedings should the compliance lapse continue.
Shinde was fatally shot on September 23, 2024, during a police transfer from Taloja prison to Kalyan. The police assert that he was killed in retaliation after he allegedly opened fire on them. This incident has intensified scrutiny over police handling of suspects in custody, particularly in cases involving serious allegations like sexual assault.
