Govt seeks time to register FIR in Badlapur case as matter listed in SC today

An official said, “While the state government had gone in appeal against the Bombay High Court order earlier this month, the matter had not been listed before the Supreme Court. Since there was no stay, we had assured the Bombay High Court that an FIR will be registered in the matter by Saturday. Now since the matter has been listed for hearing on Monday before the Supreme Court, the state government approached the High Court seeking more time for registration of the FIR since the matter would be heard within a few days’ time.”

The official added that the Supreme Court will decide on whether to order a stay on the Bombay High Court order seeking registration of an FIR in the matter or if the legal process should be allowed to continue. “If the Supreme Court does not stay the matter, an FIR will be registered by us. We are awaiting the Supreme Court order on Monday,” the official added.

Amit Katarnaware, who earlier represented parents of Akshay Shinde who was killed in an encounter said, “This is nothing more than a delay tactic to avoid registration of an FIR in the matter. Earlier, the SIT told the court that it had also appointed an officer and said an FIR would be registered till Saturday. Now suddenly, the state changes its stand asking the High Court for time till the Supreme Court hears the matter. Had the SIT registered an FIR, the appeal before the Supreme Court would have become infructuous.”

Shinde, a 23-year-old janitor, arrested in August 2024 for the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district, was shot dead while he was being transported in a police vehicle on September 23 last year. His parents had approached the Bombay High Court which had formed a Special Investigation Team under the supervision of joint commissioner of police (crime) Lakhmi Gautam to probe the matter.