Janitor accused in Badlapur child sexual assault case killed in encounter: Police

The incident reportedly occurred near the Mumbra Bypass, in Thane district. The accused was being taken to Thane by a Crime Branch SIT set up to investigate a sexual assault case filed by his former wife in 2021, a senior police officer told The Indian Express.

Police said the accused left Taloja Central Jail, where he was lodged, at around 5.30 pm. The incident occurred “between 6-6.15 pm”, a police statement said.

Police said API More sustained a bullet injury on his left thigh and was rushed to a hospital in Kalwa along with two other injured police personnel.

The accused was also taken to the same hospital, where he was declared dead, police said. His body has been sent to Sir J J Hospital for post-mortem.

“His former wife had filed a sexual assault case against him. The police were taking him for investigation in that regard, when (the accused)… opened fire on API Nilesh More, who has been injured. As per the preliminary information, the police fired in self-defence,” Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde said, adding that further details would be revealed after a thorough investigation.

In a similar statement, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “The estranged wife had lodged a sexual assault complaint against him. Accordingly, he was being taken for a probe. He snatched a gun from the police and fired at the police personnel while trying to escape from custody. The police fired in self-defence.”

Meanwhile, the parents of the accused questioned the police’s version, and asked how he could have fired at them when his hands were tied and face covered. They said they would not take his body, and demanded action against the school management officials who have been named in the case.

Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar demanded a judicial probe into the incident. “At a time when school trustees who are linked to the BJP remain absconding, the main accused gets killed by the police. Is it an attempt to destroy evidence? How did he manage to get hold of a pistol when his hands were tied? We have always doubted the role of police in this case. This case must undergo a judicial probe,” he said.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said, “ The accused should have been hanged to death through the legal route. The negligence shown by the Home department while transferring the accused raises serious doubts.”

Former Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh said the accused could not have snatched a pistol with both his hands tied. “The fake narrative of the encounter is being set to safeguard the BJP office-bearers linked to the school,” he claimed.

The accused was arrested on August 17, for allegedly sexually assaulting two four-year-old girls in the washroom of a private school in Badlapur earlier that month. Medical examinations confirmed the sexual abuse of both girls.

The incident triggered massive protests in the state over the alleged delay in filing the FIR and the poor safety measures for children in educational institutions.

Last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IG-rank IPS officer Aarti Singh filed two chargesheets before the special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court in Kalyan.