January 20, 2025: A magistrate’s inquiry has held five policemen accountable for the custodial death of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case.

The inquiry, conducted by a magistrate, was submitted to the Bombay High Court on Monday in a sealed cover. This was in response to a petition filed by Shinde's father, Anna Shinde, who alleged that his son was killed in a staged encounter.

The five police officials involved in the case are: Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Shinde of the Thane Crime Branch, Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More, Head Constables Abhijeet More and Harish Tawade, along with a police driver.

The division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale, after reviewing the inquiry report, emphasized that an FIR must be registered against the five policemen named in the report. The bench further ordered the government to clarify which probe agency would investigate the matter.

"The magistrate has conducted the inquiry and submitted its findings. The report concludes that the five policemen are responsible for the death of Akshay Shinde," the court stated. It added that the government is legally bound to register an FIR based on the report and directed the authorities to decide on the investigating agency within two weeks.

The inquiry and the court’s decision stem from the tragic events surrounding Akshay Shinde's death on September 23, 2024. Shinde, a 24-year-old school attendant, had been arrested in August 2024 for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls inside a Badlapur school. While in custody, he was killed in what the police described as a shootout during a transfer from Taloja prison for questioning. Authorities claimed that Shinde had grabbed an officer's firearm and opened fire, leading to retaliatory gunfire.

However, the inquiry has cast doubt on this version of events, leading to the present investigation into the custodial death. Senior Inspector Sanjay Shinde allegedly fired the fatal shot, and the other accused officers were present in the police van during the incident.

The magistrate's report and the court proceedings come amid heightened scrutiny of custodial deaths and police conduct. Under Indian law, an inquiry is mandated in cases where an accused dies in police custody.

In addition to this case, the High Court has also taken suo moto cognizance of the sexual assault incident and directed the formation of an expert committee to review the safety measures for students in schools and other educational institutions. Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar presented an affidavit from the State Education Department detailing the steps taken in response to the incident. The committee's report on student safety is expected to be submitted by January 31, 2025.

This case continues to capture public attention as the investigation into the custodial death unfolds, with many waiting for the next steps in holding the responsible officers accountable.