Bombay High Court Denies Bail in Badlapur Sexual Assault Case, Criticizes Investigation Team

The Bombay High Court has denied bail to the school chairman and secretary in the Badlapur sexual assault case, criticizing their negligence in reporting the incident. The court emphasized the psychological impact on the young victims and criticized the Special Investigation Team for failing to apprehend the accused.

In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court has denied pre-arrest bail to the chairman and secretary of a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, where two young girls were reportedly sexually assaulted. The case centers around a male attendant, Akshay Shinde, who was accused of assaulting the girls, aged four and five, inside the school's washroom. Following his arrest, Shinde was killed in a police shootout on September 23.

Justice RN Laddha, presiding over the case, noted that there is substantial evidence suggesting that the accused school officials were aware of the incident prior to August 16 but failed to report it to the authorities. The court highlighted the serious psychological impact the assault could have on the victims, emphasizing that the school officials, responsible for the welfare of the children, did not fulfill their legal obligations.

The court also pointed out that delays in lodging the case stemmed from the negligence of the school trustees. Justice Laddha stated, "There is a legal obligation on persons to report the offence if they are aware or made aware of it." Furthermore, the court expressed concerns over missing CCTV footage from the school, which could have been critical for the investigation.

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In a separate development, the Bombay High Court criticized the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for its failure to apprehend the two accused school trustees. This ruling underscores the urgent need for accountability and thoroughness in handling sensitive cases involving minors.