Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has launched a scathing attack on the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra, accusing it of inaction in the wake of the horrific Badlapur sexual assault case involving two minor girls. Raut expressed his outrage at the government’s silence regarding the disappearance of CCTV footage from the school where the alleged abuse took place.
Speaking at a press conference, Raut questioned the government’s response to the situation, stating, “The Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) and Home Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) are not talking about this, we are talking about this. Who made the CCTV footage disappear from the school? The head of the institution must have done this. Why did he do it? Just to save a constable or is there some other mystery behind it? What is the government doing?”
The disappearance of the CCTV footage, covering a period of 15 days, was first revealed by Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar. Kesarkar stressed the importance of investigating the missing footage and the motives behind it. He also advocated for the installation of panic buttons in schools, similar to CCTV systems, to enhance safety measures.
A report detailing the case, prepared by the Women and Child Welfare Department and the Education Ministry, was previously submitted to the Education Minister.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court has proposed the formation of a committee to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for police, hospitals, and schools in handling cases of sexual assault involving minors.
In a significant development, a Thane Court approved the Special Investigating Team’s (SIT) request for a test identification parade of the accused in the Badlapur case. The parade, conducted in the presence of the Executive Magistrate, allowed the survivors to identify the accused.
The case involves the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls within their school in Badlapur, Maharashtra. The SIT has developed a psychological profile of the suspects to aid in further investigation.
The alleged sexual assault has sparked widespread outrage and protests across the state, leading to calls for swift justice. On August 17, the police arrested a school attendant in connection with the abuse of the girls. The investigation into the case continues.
