Badlapur rape case hearing in Bombay High Court
The Badlapur rape case is being heard in the Bombay High Court. During the hearing, the court has sought all the documents related to the investigation including the FIR related to the case. The court also asked whether statements of minor girls were recorded. If no action has been taken by the school, has any action been taken against him? The next hearing of this case will be held on Tuesday next week.
The High Court has taken cognizance of the case of alleged sexual harassment of two girls in a school in Badlapur city of Thane district in Maharashtra and started hearing. A bench of Justice Revathi Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan is hearing the case. In the Badlapur exploitation case, on the one hand, the High Court is hearing the case with utmost cognizance, on the other hand, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the leadership of senior IPS officer Aarti Singh.
A copy of the case diary and FIR was handed over to the court
During the court hearing, SIT Chief Special IG Aarti Singh also reached the Bombay High Court. Thane IPS officer Sudhakar Pathare was also present with him. The court has sought all the documents related to the investigation including the FIR related to the case.
Advocate General Biren Saraf said that the SIT has started the investigation from yesterday. The accused has been arrested. The court asked whether the statement under 164 has been recorded, to which Saraf said that only the statement has been recorded, the statement under 164 has not been recorded yet. This will be done today. Meanwhile, the court was given a copy of the case diary and FIR. Advocate General Saraf told the High Court that the SIT will submit a report to you after a thorough review.
The crime branch team reached the spot
On the other hand, the team of Thane’s Bhiwandi crime branch reached the school where the incident took place. The crime branch team is still investigating several other aspects, including what happened at the school and where the vandalism took place. The crime branch team is also examining the CCTV cameras and teachers’ rooms. It is also being investigated whether the CCTV cameras were on, whether the footage was destroyed or the camera was switched off. Every aspect connected with the case is being investigated. Many school teachers may also be questioned.
Earlier, there were huge protests in Badlapur on Tuesday after the case of alleged sexual abuse of two minors by a male school assistant came to light. The situation became so bad that internet services had to be suspended in the city on Wednesday. The police informed that 72 people have been arrested in connection with the violence that took place during the demonstration.
What happened so far?
The accused of sexual exploitation was arrested on August 17. He allegedly sexually abused the girls in the school washroom. A local court on Wednesday extended his police custody till August 26.
In view of public anger, the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by senior Indian Police Service officer Aarti Singh to probe the sexual harassment. The school management suspended the principal, a class teacher and a lady assistant in the case, while the state government suspended three policemen, including a senior police inspector, for alleged negligence in the probe.
