Badlapur Sexual Abuse Case Highlights: ‘If schools are not safe, what’s the use of right to education,’ says Bombay HC

Badlapur, Mumbai News Highlights: The court has requested an affidavit from the state government detailing the actions taken by Badlapur Police before the case was transferred to the SIT. The matter will be heard next on August 27.

Badlapur School Case Highlights (August 22): The Bombay High Court Thursday voiced serious concerns about school safety, highlighting that if schools aren’t safe, discussions on the right to education lose significance. “Even four-year-old girls are not being spared. This situation is extremely shocking,” remarked Justice Mohite-Dere, as the Bench heard matters related to the alleged sexual assault of two minors at a  school in Badlpur. The court came down heavily on the Badlapur police, asking why there was a delay in recording of statements.

To follow Today’s (August 23) developments Click Here.

Advocate General Birendra Saraf, appearing for the state government, assured the court that all necessary steps will be taken to protect children, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up for thorough and swift investigation. The court has requested an affidavit from the state government detailing the actions taken by Badlapur Police before the case was transferred to the SIT. The matter will be heard next on August 27.

Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24 to protest against the alleged assault. “We had come here to discuss seat sharing formula between the alliance partners. But we decided that we would not discuss seat sharing and instead discuss the law and order in the state after the Badlapur incident. The people of Maharashtra are agitated and FIRs have been registered against those who protested….” Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said Wednesday.

Live Updates
21:50 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur Sexual abuse Live: Meanwhile in Pune, 13-year-old girl raped; two minor friends detained

A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two minor friends aged 16 and 17 earlier this year on separate occasions. Police have detained the two minor accused and also booked two more friends of the victim, including a girl, for allegedly forcing the victim to consume alcohol and filming the sexual assault.

An FIR was registered on Tuesday at a police station in Pune by the father of the victim after she recently told her family about the sexual assault, which took place in April this year.

“The victim and the four minor accused are friends. We have detained the two minors accused of rape. They were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and are currently lodged in an observation home. We have also booked a female friend of the victim and a male friend, both 16, in the case,” said the in-charge inspector of the police station, who is investigating the case. Read more

21:44 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Mumbai News Live: Maharashtra Govt asks health officials to sensitise people about Mpox

The Maharashtra government has issued guidelines about Mpox (Monkeypox), asking health officials to sensitise people about the viral disease.

While no case has been reported so far, airport and port officials have been asked to ensure close surveillance of incoming travellers, said a senior official of the Public Health Department on Thursday.

"Health officials have been asked to sensitise people about it, he said.

Mpox variant `clade Ib' has caused an outbreak in some African countries, the official said, adding that the disease primarily spreads through household contact, and children are more susceptible to catching the infection.

"It is not fatal in most cases, but specific treatment is yet to be discovered," the official said.

"We have asked district-level health officials and municipal corporations to maintain active case surveillance. Officials at airports and ports have also been requested to ensure close surveillance," he added. (PTI)

20:30 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur Sexual abuse Live: Oppn, Sena spar after CM Shinde says his govt ensured quick death sentence in rape case

A war of words took place on Thursday in Maharashtra after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said his government ensured death penalty for a rape accused by expediting the trial, and the Opposition accused him of telling a lie.

The Shiv Sena, Shinde's party, claimed the trial in the case was completed in little more than a year, and the accused was awarded death penalty in March this year.

Amid the outrage and protests over the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur, Shinde said his government has always taken strict action in such cases.

Speaking at an event in Ratnagiri on Wednesday, he said, "There was a similar case of sexual assault (in the past). We expedited the trial in a fast-track court, and the culprit was given death penalty within two months after the crime was committed." This prompted leader of opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar to accuse Shinde of spreading a fake narrative.

"How can one speak lies at a public rally? CM Shinde should clarify who was hanged in two months during the Mahayuti rule," the Congress leader said. (PTI)

19:43 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur Sexual abuse Live: Man arrested for sexual assault of eight-year-old girl in Nagpur

A man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in Kamptee area near here, police said on Thursday.

The alleged incident, which took place on August 20, came on the heels of sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district which has triggered massive protests.

The 50-year-old accused (name not disclosed) in the present case was arrested on Wednesday.

The accused, resident of Kamptee area on the outskirts of Nagpur city, allegedly lured his eight-year-old neighbour to his house, promising her snacks, a police official said.

The girl was alone at home at the time.

The accused sexually assaulted her and later warned her not to disclose the incident to anyone, threatening her with a knife, the official said.

The girl, however, told her parents about it, following which her mother approached police. (PTI)

19:17 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur Sexual abuse Live: Latur Congress protests against Badlapur school sexual assault incident

The women's wing of Congress' Latur unit on Thursday held a protest in connection with the sexual assault on two minor girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district.

On August 12 and 13, a male attendant allegedly assaulted two four-year-old girls in the school's washroom. An FIR was only lodged on August 16, and the accused was arrested the following day.

The protesters gathered at Gandhi Chowk here holding banners and shouting slogans seeking justice for the victims and also admonishing the state government for rising crimes against women.

They submitted a memorandum to the authorities and sought special safety measures in schools and colleges to prevent such incidents. (PTI)

18:26 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: 10-year-old girl's body recovered from sugarcane field in Kolhapur, sexual assault suspected

The body of a 10-year-old missing girl was recovered from a sugarcane field in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district on Thursday morning with the police suspecting she was sexually assaulted before being murdered.

The girl, whose family hails from Bihar, left her residence on Wednesday evening after her uncle scolded her over excessive mobile phone use, police said.

As she did not return home till late in the evening, her family members launched a frantic search and on not finding her, they lodged a missing person's complaint with a local police station.

The minor's body was spotted in the morning by local residents in a sugarcane field just 800 metres away from her home in Shiye village under Karvir taluka, police said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem and further probe was underway, they said.

The incident comes days after two minor girls were sexually abused by an attendant in a school in Badlapur town of Thane district. (PTI)

18:07 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Mumbai News Live: It is government's duty to trace missing children, women says Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court on Thursday said it was the government's duty to trace missing children and women.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), a division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit on measures taken by it to deal with such cases.

The court also sought a reply from the Government Railway Police (GRP) on measures taken to check human trafficking, and suggestions from the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) for curbing human trafficking.

The PIL, filed by Sangli-resident Shahaji Jagtap, sought a direction to the state police to trace more than one lakh women who went missing in Maharashtra between 2019 and 2021.

The petitioner's advocate Manjiri Parasnis on Thursday told the court that Jagtap's own daughter had gone missing.

While searching for her, he came across information provided by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the Lok Sabha on March 14, 2023, that the number of children reported missing in Maharashtra was "very high." In 2019, 2020 and 2021, the number of children reported missing was 4,562; 3,356 and 4,129, respectively. Similarly, over one lakh cases of women aged 18 and above going missing were reported in Maharashtra in these three years.

This comes after the Bombay High Court Thursday voiced serious concerns about school safety, highlighting that if schools aren’t safe, discussions on the right to education lose significance as the Bench heard matters related to the alleged sexual assault of two minors at a  school in Badlapur. (PTI)

17:29 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Mumbai News Live: NITI Aayog report sets target of doubling Mumbai Metropolitan Region's GDP in five years

A report prepared by the NITI Aayog on the development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) aims to double the region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the next five years, and make Mumbai and its satellite towns a global economic hub.

At present the region's GDP is Rs 12 lakh crore (USD 140 billion) and it should reach Rs 26 lakh crore (USD 300 billion) by 2030, the report submitted to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde by NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam said.

While there are one crore employment opportunities in the MMR at present, there is a need to create 30 lakh more opportunities, the report said.

Chief minister Shinde said infrastructure and communication facilities are the foundation for the state's development, and work was underway in that direction.

The MMR, which comprises Mumbai city, Mumbai suburbs, Palghar, Raigad and Thane districts, accounts for a third of Maharashtra's GDP, the report noted. (PTI)

16:47 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Mumbai News Live: Senior IAS officer IS Chahal appointed ACS (Home)

In other news from Maharashtra, former BMC commissioner and present Additional CS (CMO), I S Chahal has been appointed as Additional CS of Home Department. The post was vacant as Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik was handling the additional responsibility of this post.

16:33 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Meanwhile parents, MNS workers enter Thane school, seek action against 'abusive' teacher

After the Badlapur school child sexual abuse case, scores of parents stormed into a school in Thane on Thursday seeking action against a teacher who allegedly hit a student, resulting in injuries to his head. As per parents, the woman teacher, who allegedly hit the student, routinely subjected students to abusive language over the last two years and would ask them to boycott some of their colleagues.

The parents, who entered the school along with local functionaries of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, claimed previous complaints to the management had yielded no results.

The management has taken a lethargic approach in the matter so far and the teacher must not be allowed to be part of the school, Thane-Palghar MNS chief Avinash Jadhav said.

On Thursday, the school management said the teacher had been asked not to enter the premises, adding that it had written to the education department to suspend her and take further action. A copy of the letter written by the school management to the state education department is with PTI. (PTI)

15:48 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Maharashtra Govt sees polls and politics in outrage over Badlapur school sex assault

The public outrage over the alleged sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls in a Badlapur school by a cleaning staffer should serve as a wake-up call for the Maharashtra Government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Protests snowballed into massive outrage with people blocking the railway tracks and storming the school building over the incidents that took place on August 12 and 13.

Less than 24 hours after the protests, Shinde said on Wednesday, “I believe yesterday’s protest was politically motivated. Normally, whenever there is a protest the locals are involved. But yesterday people from outside came in vehicles. Despite the reassurance of strong action by our minister Girish Mahajan, they refused to leave the tracks. It is evident that their motive was to defame the Government.” Read more

15:13 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Those who feel there is politics behind Badlapur protest are abnormal, says Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray said that those feel that the protest in Badlapur was politically motivated are either abnormal or protectors of the culprits.

Thackeray was referring to CM Shinde's claim that the protest was politically motivated and most of the protesters had come from outside.

He said there is no political motive behind the bandh called by the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on August 24. The bandh is aimed at creating awareness that the security of women should be a priority and also awakening the government, as reported by PTI.

He said the protest was not like the much-publicised Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which he claimed has been rolled out keeping the upcoming assembly polls in mind. It is the manifestation of anger, he said.

Thackeray wondered what the use of Ladki Bahin Yojana is when sisters in the state are not safe.

13:56 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Son falsely implicated, claim parents of accused

The parents of the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case on Thursday claimed that their son was innocent and he had been framed.

Speaking to a Marathi news channel, the parents said there is no truth in the allegations against their son.

The accused, who worked as an attendant, has been arrested for allegedly sexually molesting two 4-year-old girl students inside the toilet of a school in Badlapur town in Maharashtra’s Thane district. A local court on Wednesday sent him to police custody till August 26. (PTI)

13:49 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: 'CM must not spread lies while commenting on sensitive issues' says LoP Vijay Wadettiwar

The opposition, LoP Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday dared Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde to give details of a case where he claimed the death penalty was awarded by a court in the last two months.

"The CM and this government are busy faking a narrative and spreading fake news. He should come out clean and tell the people details about the case where the death penalty was awarded in the last two months. A CM must not spread lies while commenting on sensitive issues like rape and sexual harassment of women," he said.

Speaking at a program in Ratnagiri yesterday, Shinde claimed that his government ensure the death penalty to an accused in a rape case in the last two months.

13:43 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
'Those who feel there is politics behind the Badlapur protest are either abnormal or protectors of the culprits' says Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena on Thursday said those who feel there is politics behind Tuesday's Badlapur protest over the alleged sexual assault on two kindergarten girls are either abnormal or protectors of the culprits.

He said there is no political motive behind the bandh called by the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on August 24. The bandh is aimed at creating the awareness that the security of women should be a priority and also “awakening” the government.

“Those who feel there is politics behind the Badlapur protest are either abnormal or protectors of the culprits,” the Sena (UBT) chief said at a news conference.

A massive protest rocked Badlapur town in Thane district on Tuesday after thousands of people hit the streets and spilled onto railway tracks to protest the alleged sexual assault on two four-year-old girls by a male attendant on the premises of a local school.

The MVA has called for a “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24 to protest against the alleged sexual assault on the two girls.

13:24 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur sexual assault: Son falsely implicated, claim parents of accused

The parents of the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case claimed that their son was innocent and he had been framed.

Speaking to a Marathi news channel, the parents said there is no truth in the allegations against their son. “Our son had been doing the job for the past 15 days. He used to go to the school by 11 am daily to clean the bathroom. He would then proceed to another place for similar work,” his mother claimed.

The mother claimed that the accused had some medical issues in his childhood and was mentally weak. But he has taken medicines for that, she said. “Some people came to our house on Tuesday and beat up all the family members and threw out our belongings,” claimed the father of the accused.

13:23 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Sanjay Raut disputes Maharashtra CM's claim on Badlapur protesters' identity

Sanjay Raut, a leader from Shiv Sena (UBT), challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's claim that the recent protest in Badlapur over the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls was politically motivated and driven by outsiders.

Raut posted on X, citing a police remand application that indicated most protesters were locals, contrary to the government's assertion.

The protest, which involved blocking railway tracks and led to a lathi charge by police, was sparked by allegations against a school attendant. (PTI)

12:56 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Maharashtra Govt sees polls and politics in outrage over Badlapur school sex assault

The public outrage over the alleged sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls in a Badlapur school by a cleaning staffer should serve as a wake-up call for the Maharashtra Government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Protests snowballed into massive outrage with people blocking the railway tracks and storming the school building over the incidents that took place on August 12 and 13.

Less than 24 hours after the protests, Shinde said on Wednesday, “I believe yesterday’s protest was politically motivated. Normally, whenever there is a protest the locals are involved. But yesterday people from outside came in vehicles. Despite the reassurance of strong action by our minister Girish Mahajan, they refused to leave the tracks. It is evident that their motive was to defame the Government.” Read

12:20 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Sexual assault case hearing set for August 27

Seeking an affidavit from the state government informing the steps taken by Badlapur Police before the matter was handed over to SIT, the bench posted the matter next on Tuesday, August 27

12:10 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: 'If schools are not safe, what's the use of right to education,' says Bombay HC

The bench on Thursday while hearing the Badlapur sexual assault case stated that "If the school is not a safe place, then what is the use of speaking about right to education and such things? Even 4-year-old girls are not being spared. What is this situation? It is extremely shocking," Justice Mohite-Dere remarked. AG Saraf said that all steps will be taken to ensure the safety of children and SIT will leave no stone unturned and it will pursue the matter on a speedy basis. The bench will hear the plea next on Tuesday, August 27

12:08 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Bombay HC mandates victim counselling and strict safety guidelines for schools

The court also said that counselling of victims and their families is mandated as per law. "We will ensure not only guidelines be issued regarding the safety of students but they are implemented in all the schools. We will do everything in our means to ensure that," Saraf submitted, adding that strict action will be taken in case of any dereliction of duty in the present case

12:05 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: 'Support will be given to victims and their families and the statements will be recorded promptly' says Advocate General Birendra Saraf

Advocate General Birendra Saraf for the state government submitted that the statement of one girl has been recorded and her statement under section 164 of CrPC will be recorded during the day. He said that an administrator has been appointed to the school and action was taken against the school authorities.

Saraf said all support will be given to victims and their families and the statements will be recorded promptly during the day. "We want to see the case file on the next day and what investigation was done by Badlapur police before it was handed over to the SIT. A lot of answers to give as to why Badlapur police station did not conduct an investigation as required."

12:03 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Bombay HC questions state police, 'why delay in recording statements'

The court says it hoped that "no stone will be left unturned to ensure the justice". It noted that the Badlapur school authorities failed to report the sexual abuse to the police despite their being aware of the same.

"You (Police) recorded statements so belatedly, the incident is of August 13 and the FIR is of 16th, statement recorded now? Why statements of parents were not recorded earlier? Duty of the police officer is to record the statement as per procedures. We are interested in ensuring victims get justice," Justice Mohite-Dere remarked

The bench noted, "We are appalled by the fact that the Badlapur police did not record the statement of the second victim girl under Section 164. Only after the suo motu PIL was registered yesterday, the statement of the father of one of the victims was recorded belatedly post midnight."

11:47 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Unless there is a strong public outburst, the machinery does not work, says Bombay HC

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj K Chavan on Thursday questioned state police as to why the statement of the second victim girl was not recorded and sought to know what steps were taken regarding the security and safety of victim girls and said it would examine the same thereafter.

"Since this is a suo motu PIL on larger issues security and safety of girls cannot be compromised. Unless there is a strong public outburst, the machinery does not work," the bench remarked

11:40 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Bombay High Court to hear Badlapur sexual assault case today

The Bombay High Court is set to hear the case involving the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls by a male attendant at a school in Badlapur. The bench consisting of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan will review the matter, two days after widespread protests triggered violence in Badlapur, leading to over 70 arrests. Police was been deployed in large numbers across the area to maintain law and order yesterday.

11:22 (IST) 22 Aug 2024
Badlapur News Live: Schools, colleges in suburbs to start self-defence training for female students from Sept 1

Starting September 1, schools, colleges and industrial training institutes (ITI) located in the suburban belt of Mumbai will provide self-defence training to female students. On Wednesday, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, cabinet minister for skill development and guardian minister of suburban Mumbai, wrote to the district collector emphasising the need to implement necessary measures for the safety of female students at educational institutes.

In his letter, he said that educational institutes should rope in NGOs for self-defence training to women.

“The increasing crimes against women and children are a matter of concern for the government, administration and our society. The incident that occurred in Badlapur has provided public suggestions for preventive measures. Such incidents are happening due to negligence regarding women’s safety,” Lodha said in his letter. Read

Click here to join The Indian Express on WhatsApp and get latest news and updates

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments