Mumbai

In light of the ongoing controversy surrounding the encounter of Akshay Shinde, the main suspect in the sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls at a well-known school in Badlapur, the Maharashtra government has established a judicial commission led by retired justice Dilip Bhosale. This investigation falls under the Commission of Inquiry Act of 1952, and the commission is required to submit its report within three months.

The commission will investigate the events that unfolded on September 23 at Mumbra Bypass in Thane, which led to the death of Shinde during an exchange of gunfire with police. It will examine whether anyone was directly or indirectly responsible for the incident and evaluate the appropriateness of the police’s actions in handling the situation.

Additionally, the commission will look into any other related aspects as directed by the state government and recommend both short-term and long-term measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. This move follows strong criticism from opposition parties and former police officers, including JF Ribeiro, who have questioned the encounter’s timing and circumstances. The gazette notification emphasizes the need for a thorough inquiry due to the public importance of the incident.