‘Badlapur child sex assault accused snatched pistol, fired at cops before encounter’; family says, ‘Akshay was afraid of bursting crackers, how can he shoot?’

Mumbai: In a sensational development in the Badlapur child sexual assault case, the prime accused, Akshay Shinde, was shot dead by police on Monday after he allegedly snatched a cop's pistol and shot a cop in a bid to escape police custody.

The incident -- suspected to be an ‘encounter’ by the police in self-defence’ -- occurred when Shinde was being shifted by a police escort team from Taloja Jail to Badlapur town for investigation in an another case filed by his second wife in the year 2022.

According to details, as the police jeep entered the Thane Police jurisdiction, Shinde allegedly snatched a policeman’s gun and fired around one round at self and another at the police, even as other police personnel attempted to overpower him.

Shinde, who suffered grievous bullet injuries in the scuffle, and the injured policeman were rushed to a nearby hospital, where the accused succumbed later.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis confirmed Akshay Shinde’s death in firing by police in self-defence, in which at least one more policeman was also injured, sending shockwaves in political circles.

While talking to media, Fadnavis said that the accused was being taken from Taloja Jail (Raigad) to adjoining Badlapur town (Thane) after a proper warrant by the police for investigation in his former wife's complaint.

During this, Shinde allegedly snatched a sub-inspector Nilesh More’s gun and fired at him and self, but other police personnel immediately returned fire, injuring him seriously. Shinde was critically injured in the gun-battle, while More sustained at least one bullet injury in the limb.

Both were rushed to the Kalwa government hospital for treatment, where Shinde succumbed, said the CM and Deputy CM.

Family cries foul

The mother of the accused Akshay Shinde disproved the claims of Maharashtra Police and alleged that he was killed as part of a ‘conspiracy.’

She said, “The police have killed my son. The school management must also be probed. My son was afraid of bursting crackers and crossing the road. How can he shoot at policemen?”