Mumbai: High Court Order to File FIR Against Cops in Badlapur Encounter Remains Unimplemented as Maharashtra Govt Moves Supreme Court

Mumbai, 5th May 2025: Despite a Bombay High Court directive to register an FIR against five police officers held responsible for the custodial death of Akshay Shinde main accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case FIR has been filed as of the court-imposed deadline on Saturday. The Maharashtra government has instead challenged the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for 5th May.

Akshay Shinde, a school sweeper accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls in Badlapur in August 2024, died in a controversial police encounter on 23rd September 2024, while being transported from Taloja jail for questioning. A magistrate’s inquiry concluded that five policemen were responsible for Shinde’s death, prompting the High Court to order the immediate registration of a case against them and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

The state government sought more time, citing its petition before the Supreme Court, but the High Court refused to stay its order and warned of contempt action if its directives were not followed. The SIT was expected to file the FIR by Saturday, but the deadline passed without compliance, as the government maintained there was no complainant to initiate the process.

The case has drawn significant attention to issues of police accountability and custodial deaths, with the judiciary closely monitoring the investigation and the state’s response. The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision will determine the next steps in this high-profile case.