Cop Who Shot Badlapur Rape Accused, Once Took Down Dawood's Brother, Know All About Him

Thane: Akshay Shinde, accused in Maharashtra 's Badlapur sexual abuse case, was shot by police after he seized an officer's weapon and fired at them. Notably, police Inspector Sanjay Shinde, who fired the fatal shot, had previously worked with former police officer Pradeep Sharma, known for his reputation as an 'encounter specialist.'

According to police, Akshay Shinde seized a weapon from an officer and opened fire while being transported from Taloja jail to Badlapur for questioning on Monday evening. During the incident, both Sanjay Shinde and Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More were injured.

Sanjay Shinde And His Connection Encounter Specialist Pradeep Sharma 

Sanjay Shinde previously served in the anti-extortion cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch, which was led by Encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma. 

Pradeep Sharma, Encounter Cop (Image/PTI)

Sharma is recognized for his work as an encounter specialist in the Mumbai Police, where he is credited with eliminating over 100 criminals throughout his career. Joining the police force in 1983, he gained notoriety in the 1990s for his participation in high-profile encounters aimed at members of the Mumbai underworld, particularly gangsters associated with Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan.

Shinde Played Role In Arrest of Dawood Ibrahim's Brother Iqbal Kaskar

Sanjay Shinde was a member of the team that arrested Iqbal Kaskar, the brother of gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

He has previously served in the Mumbai Police and is currently part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the state government to investigate the Badlapur rape case.

Notably, Sanjay Shinde faced suspension and an inquiry after Vijay Palande, a murder suspect, escaped from police custody. He was accused of assisting Palande in the escape, as officials discovered their prior acquaintance. Additionally, Shinde's uniform was found in Palande's car.

Badlapur Sexual Abuse Case

Akshay Shinde was accused in the sexual assault case of two minor girls in Badlapur. 

The alleged sexual assault case of two fourth-grade girls at a school in Maharashtra 's Badlapur had sparked outrage. On August 17, police arrested an attendant of the school for allegedly abusing the girls.The state government had formed an SIT to probe the sexual assault case.

Earlier in August, the Bombay High Court took suo motu cognizance of the sexual abuse case of two girls at a school in Badlapur and said that boys need to be educated about gender equality from a young age and there is a need to bring change in their mindset.

Highlighting the need to bring a change in the mindset of the male gender, the Bombay High Court said on August 27 said that boys need to be educated about gender equality from a young age.

What Did HC Say? 

At a hearing on the Badlapur sexual assault case, the court said, "We always talk about girls. We don't tell boys what is right and what is wrong. We need to change the mentality of boys, teach them to respect women."

High Court Expressed Displeasure With Police Investigation

Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan observed that male dominance and chauvinism persist in society and emphasized the need to educate boys about appropriate behavior from an early age. The Court proposed forming a committee to examine the issue and develop rules and guidelines for schools to help prevent such incidents. Additionally, the Court reiterated its dissatisfaction with the Badlapur Police's handling of the initial investigation, criticizing their lack of sensitivity.