Judicial panel to probe death of Badlapur case accused

MUMBAI: The state govt has appointed a single-member judicial commission headed by former chief justice of Allahabad high court Dilip Bhosale to inquire into the death of the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case. The accused was shot dead by police during a firing exchange on Sept 23 while being transported from Taloja jail to Thane crime branch in a police vehicle.

The commission will enquire into the sequence of events that led to the death at Mumbra Bypass and determine if any individual, group or organisation was directly or indirectly responsible for the incident. The inquiry will also look into other related issues and suggest short- and long-term measures to be taken by the police to prevent such incidents.

Jail officials said they handed over the accused to senior crime branch inspector Sanjay Shinde in “good condition”, following a court order. The accused was being taken to Thane crime branch as part of an investigation into another case filed by his former wife. During the transfer, the accused allegedly snatched the service revolver of API Nilesh More and fired three rounds at police guards, injuring More in the process. In self-defense, Shinde fired at the accused who was later declared dead in hospital.

Govt has asked the commission to submit its report within three months. Earlier, the former CJ was appointed to lead an inquiry into the collapse of a billboard at a petrol pump in Ghatkopar on May 13, which resulted in deaths of 16 people.