The police had said the accused in the Badlapur sexual abuse case was killed in “retaliatory firing” when he snatched a police officer’s service weapon and opened fire.

Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday said the accused in the Badlapur sexual abuse case was killed in a “fake encounter” by the police to ”save certain people” and demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The police had said a 23-year-old janitor, who was arrested last month for allegedly sexually abusing two four-year-old girls at a school in Badlapur in the Thane district, was killed in “retaliatory firing” when he snatched a police officer’s service weapon and opened fire on Monday.

Speaking To The Indian Express, Chavan said, ”This is a clear-cut case of a fake encounter. All the claims being made through the police by the government that the accused opened fire on scores of policemen escorting him is simply laughable.”

According to the police, the accused, who was being transported in a police vehicle, snatched Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More’s pistol and fired at the team escorting him. They also said the accused fired three rounds, injuring three police personnel, before they shot him down in retaliation.

The incident reportedly took place near the Mumbra Bypass in the Thane district. The accused was being transported to Thane by a Crime Branch SIT that was established to investigate a sexual assault case filed by his former wife in 2021, according to the police.

Chavan said it was impossible to believe that an accused in such a high-profile case was being escorted in such a cavalier manner. ”This case had not only rattled Maharashtra but triggered national outrage. Obviously, the police must have taken all precautions when he was being taken to Thane by a crime branch team from Taloja Central Jail.”

Chavan asked how an accused could carry out such a daring act when surrounded by several policemen in a vehicle, handcuffed, and with his face covered.

“Were the police sleeping in the vehicle around 6.15 pm when the incident happened? Couldn’t they overpower him when he tried to make some movements? Anyway, the weapons that police carry at such times are locked, and only they know how to unlock them. Therefore, all of these things raise serious doubts about the encounter,” Chavan said.

Chavan alleged that as home minister, Fadnavis was attempting to protect those who run the school. “I have heard that those who run the school are closely associated with Fadnavis. Therefore, he may have orchestrated this encounter to shield his associates.”

Chavan stated that Fadnavis should resign because he engaged in “illegal activities” that go against the Constitution. “We are not a lawless country. Our Constitution has established rules and regulations to handle the accused. We cannot use unconstitutional methods to deal with them. Fadnavis has damaged the reputation of Maharashtra. He is not fit to continue as the home minister and should step down,” Chavan said.

Moments after the incident, as the police came under fire, Fadnavis denied that it was a fake encounter. He said the police fired in self-defence after the accused opened fire.

Source: indianexpress