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 by a now-deceased male attendant, Akshay Shinde.
Justice RN Laddha, presiding over the case, indicated that there is sufficient preliminary evidence suggesting that the accused were aware of the allegations prior to August 16 but failed to report them to authorities. The court emphasized the significant psychological impact the assault could have on the minor victims, stating, “The trauma they have endured can profoundly affect their adolescent years, leaving lasting scars.”
The court noted that parents of the victims had raised concerns with school staff about the incident. Despite this knowledge, the accused did not take appropriate action to inform law enforcement. The bench remarked that the delay in filing the case was largely due to negligence on the part of the accused.
Additionally, the court highlighted that crucial CCTV footage from the day of the incident is missing, raising further concerns about accountability.
In a related matter, the High Court criticized the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for its failure to apprehend the two school trustees involved in the case. Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan questioned how law enforcement, known for its thoroughness in capturing suspects, has been unable to locate these individuals. Advocate General Birendra Saraf confirmed that both trustees are still at large and have sought anticipatory bail.
The court expressed frustration over this situation, asking if police were waiting for the trustees to secure anticipatory bail instead of actively pursuing their arrest. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on October 23.
