Mumbai: Despite the Bombay High Court’s stern stance in the encounter case linked to the Badlapur school sexual abuse incident in Thane, the Mumbai crime branch had not registered an FIR as of Saturday. The crime branch had assured the court that the FIR would be filed by May 3.
Datta Nalawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police, crime branch, and a member of SIT (Special Investigation Team), stated, “The FIR has not been filed yet as the government has approached the court.” According to sources, the crime branch is reviewing the case files and is preparing to request for additional time from the court.
Meanwhile, the state government’s appeal against the HC’s order is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on May 5. The case dates back to September 2024, when Akshay Shinde, accused in the Badlapur school sexual abuse case, was allegedly killed in a police encounter.
The Bombay High Court had directed that an FIR be registered against five policemen in connection with the case. On April 30, the court asked when the FIR would be filed, and the crime branch sought time until Saturday (May 3). A division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Neela Gokhale expressed strong displeasure over the inaction and warned that if prompt steps were not taken, the court might initiate contempt proceedings.
