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The Bombay High Court has expressed serious doubts about the official narrative surrounding the death of Akshay Shinde, a suspect accused of sexually assaulting two 4-year-old girls in Badlapur East. Shinde was killed by the Thane police crime branch while in custody, leading to allegations of a fake encounter. The court, in a strong statement, questioned the police version of events, citing inconsistencies and highlighting the need for an impartial investigation.
Justice Prithviraj Chavan, part of the division bench hearing the case, pointed out the implausibility of Shinde managing to seize a gun from a police officer and firing upon them. He questioned why Shinde was shot in the head directly instead of being subdued by targeting his limbs first. The court deemed the circumstances surrounding the shooting highly questionable, stating it could not be classified as a genuine encounter.
The court further emphasized the importance of a fair and impartial probe into Shinde's death. They ordered the immediate transfer of all case documents to the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID), which has been tasked with conducting an independent investigation. This move underscores the court's distrust in the Thane police's ability to conduct a credible inquiry into the incident.
The court's intervention comes in response to a petition filed by Shinde's father, Anna Shinde, who alleged his son's death was a staged encounter. He requested the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter further. The high court's decision to involve the CID, which operates independently of the Thane police, reflects their intention to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation into the alleged fake encounter.