Badlapur accused encounter: Maharashtra government appoints single member commission to probe shooting

The government has formed a single-member commission of inquiry consisting of Dilip Bhosale, retired Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court

The Maharashtra government has formed a single-member inquiry commission consisting of a retired Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, to probe into the shooting of the Badlapur assault accused. The commission consisting of Chief Justice (retired) Dilip Bhosale will have to submit a report within three months. Akshay Shinde had died in an alleged police encounter last month. He was an alleged accused in the sexual assault of two minor girls at a Badlapur school.

“The Home Department had sent the proposal to the Chief Minister’s Office. We approved it immediately after we received it,” a top official of the Chief Minister’s Office told The Hindu.

Also read | Badlapur encounter snowballs into a political controversy in Maharashtra

The inquiry commission has been set up to probe into ‘the sequence of events that happened at Mumbra Bypass, Thane on the 23rd September 2024 regarding the exchange of fire between the accused person Akshay Shinde and the Police Escort Party, which resulted into the death of accused Akshay Shinde, and the causes and consequences thereof.’

Giving the background behind the reason for the formation of the commission, the notification stated, “Whereas, an incident occurred at Mumbra Bypass, Thane on the 23rd September 2024, wherein there was an exchange of fire between one accused person named Akshay Shinde, and the accompanying Police Escort Party, resulting into injuries to both, the accused and one Police Officer. The accused Shri Akshay Shinde was taken to the Hospital for treatment where he was declared dead on arrival.”

“It is necessary to inquire into the exact sequence of the said incidents, causes thereof and the person or organization, if any, responsible for the same and the role of the police machinery during the said incident, and also to identify the measures to prevent recurrence of such incident through a Commission appointed under section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952),” the notification issued by the Home Department of the Government of Maharashtra stated.

The terms of reference of the commission stated, “Whether any individual or group of individuals or organisation, if any, was seen directly or indirectly responsible for said incident; Whether the steps taken by the police in handling the aforesaid situation were appropriate; Conduct a detailed examination of all the related aspects and events of the above incident; Conduct an inquiry into all other issues related to this incident provided by the State Government.”

The commission has also been mandated to suggest short term and long term measures to be taken by the Police in order to avoid reoccurrence of such incident

“The Commission of Inquiry shall conduct the inquiry and submit the report within three months from the date of publication of this notification in the Maharashtra Government Gazzette. The Commission of Inquiry shall determine its Headquarter and regulate its own procedure,” the notification said.

The shooting of the Badlapur accused had led to a political controversy in Maharashtra. While Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis had come out in support of the police action and the party workers had put out hoardings applauding them, the opposition had claimed that this was a bid to protect the other accused who are allegedly associated with a ruling party.

Published - October 02, 2024 01:45 pm IST