On 20 August 2024, thousands of people in Badlapur, Thane district, Maharashtra, blocked the railway station for about ten hours and damaged a school where two kindergarten girls had been sexually assaulted by an attendant. Police cleared the tracks with a lathicharge, registered four FIRs and arrested about 72 people. The accused was shot dead in a police van on 23 September 2024, and a magistrate's inquiry later held five policemen responsible for his death.
Key takeaways
- Two kindergarten girls were assaulted in a Badlapur school on 12 and 13 August 2024; the FIR came on 16 August, and the Bombay High Court criticised the delay.
- On 20 August 2024 protesters blocked Badlapur station and damaged the school; police lathi-charged them around 6 pm and about 72 people were arrested.
- The High Court barred the opposition's 24 August Maharashtra bandh; the Maha Vikas Aghadi held silent protests instead.
- The accused was shot dead in a police van on 23 September 2024; police said he fired first, but a magistrate held five policemen responsible.
Background: the assault and the FIR delay
According to court documents cited by PTI, two girls aged about three and four were sexually assaulted by a male attendant inside the school washroom in Badlapur on 12 and 13 August 2024. The FIR was lodged on 16 August and the accused was arrested on 17 August Tribune/PTI. Some reports give 16 August as the arrest date The Wire.
The accused, Akshay Shinde, a contractual cleaner, was 23 or 24 by different reports SabrangIndia Tribune/PTI. The case came to light when one girl told her parents she was in pain, and they then learned that a second girl had also been assaulted The Wire.
Claim · Opposition Opposition parties alleged that the girls' parents were made to wait 11 hours at Badlapur police station before their complaint was taken Tribune/PTI. Claim · Police DCP Sudhakar Pathare rejected the allegation of a 12-hour delay. He said registration began at 11.30 pm, the arrest came by 3.30 am, and questioning victims aged three to four took time PTI via Deccan Herald.
Timeline
Protest at the school and station
Parents and residents, many of them women, gathered outside the school and began blocking local trains at Badlapur station from around 8.30 am. Some protesters broke the school's gate, window panes, benches and doors Tribune/PTI.
Lathicharge clears the tracks
After stone-throwing and refusals to end the blockade, police lathi-charged the crowd and cleared the tracks PTI via Deccan Herald. Twelve mail and express trains were diverted and 30 locals partly cancelled The Wire.
Suspensions and SIT
The government suspended a senior police inspector, an assistant sub-inspector and a head constable of Badlapur police station, and named IG-rank IPS officer Arti Singh to lead an SIT Tribune/PTI.
Internet suspended, arrests
Internet was suspended and most schools stayed shut. Police reported 72 arrests Tribune/PTI. The Wire reported later that day that internet had been restored The Wire.
The rail roko and the police response
PTI described thousands of protesters on the tracks, shouting slogans against police and demanding the death penalty for the attendant Tribune/PTI.
A senior Badlapur police official told PTI that at least 17 city police personnel, including two officers, were injured by stones, and Government Railway Police commissioner Ravindra Shisve said seven to eight railway police were hurt Tribune/PTI. No figures for injured protesters appeared in the reports reviewed here.
Cases and arrests: the figures differ
- PTI, 21 Aug: city police registered three FIRs, including for armed unlawful assembly and damage to public property, and arrested 40; railway police registered one FIR and arrested 32, a total of 72 Tribune/PTI.
- The Wire, citing Indian Express, 21 Aug: four FIRs against more than 400 protesters and at least 66 arrests, on charges of rioting, damaging public property and hurting public servants The Wire.
No report reviewed says whether these cases were later withdrawn or tried.
Both accounts
Protesters' and opposition account
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said "those who feel there is politics behind the Badlapur protest are either abnormal or protectors of the culprits" and criticised the cases filed against protesters PTI via Deccan Herald. Sanjay Raut said the protesters were locals Tribune/PTI. Rahul Gandhi asked: "Will we now have to protest to even register an FIR?" Business Today
Police and government account
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the protest was politically motivated and most protesters were outsiders Tribune/PTI. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis accused the opposition of seeking "political benefit" and promised a fast-track trial Tribune/PTI. DCP Pathare urged residents not to protest, saying agitation could hinder the investigation PTI via Deccan Herald.
The High Court's suo motu case
On 22 August 2024 a bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan called the assault "absolutely shocking", said action should be taken against the school for not reporting it, and asked the SIT to report by 27 August Tribune/PTI.
Unless there is strong public outburst, machinery won't move. Won't the state move till public outbursts like this
Bombay High Court, 22 Aug 2024 (PTI via Tribune)
The SIT then registered an FIR against the school authorities under Section 19 of the POCSO Act, which requires anyone aware of such an offence to report it Deccan Herald. The school had suspended the principal, a class teacher and a female attendant Tribune/PTI. The court also directed an expert committee on student safety, headed by Justices Sadhana Jadhav and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi Free Press Journal LiveLaw.
The bandh call and the court bar
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP)) called a statewide bandh for 24 August. On 23 August, on two PILs, a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar ordered: "Until further orders, all concerned are restrained from proceeding with the call for bandh in the state of Maharashtra on 24th August 2024 or any other subsequent date" Bar and Bench Tribune/PTI.
CM Shinde called the order "a slap across the Opposition's face" PTI via Deccan Herald. The MVA withdrew the bandh and its leaders protested with black bands over their mouths; Sharad Pawar joined a silent protest in Pune Navbharat Live PTI via Deccan Herald.
The accused's death in custody
Claim · Police and state government On 23 September 2024, Akshay Shinde was being taken from Taloja jail for questioning in a case filed by his former wife. Police said that near the Mumbra bypass he snatched an officer's gun and fired, injuring Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More, and was killed by return fire. CM Shinde and Fadnavis said police fired in self-defence PTI via Deccan Herald Outlook.
His parents alleged a fake encounter. Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar asked: "Is it an attempt to destroy evidence?" PTI via Deccan Herald. On 25 September, Justice Chavan said in oral remarks: "This cannot be termed as an encounter" Deccan Herald. The state set up a one-member commission under retired Justice Dilip Bhosale Deccan Herald.
The magistrate's finding and what courts did with it
Documented The magistrate's report, placed before the High Court on 20 January 2025, held the five policemen in the van responsible: Senior Inspector Sanjay Shinde, Assistant Inspector Nilesh More, head constables Abhijeet More and Harish Tawade, and Satish Khatal, described as a constable or the driver. Forensic tests found no fingerprints of the accused on the pistol and no gunshot residue on his hands Free Press Journal Tribune/PTI.
In such circumstances, it clearly shows that use of force was not justified, and the contention raised by police persons of the right of private defence comes under the shadow of suspicion
Magistrate's inquiry report, as quoted by Free Press Journal, 20 Jan 2025
- 21 Feb 2025: on the policemen's revision plea, a Thane sessions judge kept the report's concluding paragraphs in abeyance. The officers said the magistrate overstepped his jurisdiction PTI via Deccan Herald. The High Court said on 27 February: "We are shocked" LiveLaw.
- 7 Apr 2025: the parents had asked to withdraw, but the High Court continued with an amicus, ordered an FIR and an SIT under Mumbai Joint CP Lakhmi Gautam, and refused a stay Bar and Bench.
- 5 to 6 May 2025: on the state's appeal, the Supreme Court placed the SIT under DGP Rashmi Shukla and clarified: "We may clarify that registration of a second FIR is not needed." An attempt-to-murder FIR based on the policemen's complaint already existed at Mumbra police station Free Press Journal.
- May 2025: the DGP named Additional CP Dattatray Shinde to head a new SIT, which took over the CID's papers Deccan Herald.
Case against the school trustees
On 1 October 2024, Justice Rajesh Laddha refused anticipatory bail to the school's chairman and secretary, finding prima facie material that they knew of the assault before 16 August but did not report it LiveLaw. Chairman Uday Kotwal and secretary Tushar Apte were arrested in Karjat on 2 October Tribune/PTI, got bail in one case and were re-arrested in another AIR News, and were bailed again within 48 hours ETV Bharat.
In January 2026 Apte was nominated a BJP councillor of the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council and resigned days later after public outrage Free Press Journal.
Outcome
- Protest cases: four FIRs; 66 to 72 arrested, by different counts.
- Accused: shot dead in custody on 23 Sept 2024.
- Encounter probe: magistrate held five policemen responsible; SIT under the DGP formed in May 2025.
- Trustees: on bail; case in a Kalyan special POCSO court.
Where things stand
As of January 2026 the case against the chairman and secretary was pending before the special POCSO court in Kalyan ETV Bharat. No findings from the new SIT or the Bhosale commission, and no charges against the five policemen, were reported in the sources reviewed.
Questions people ask
What happened in Badlapur in August 2024?
After two kindergarten girls were assaulted at a school, residents blocked Badlapur station for about ten hours on 20 August and damaged the school. Police dispersed them with a lathicharge.
Why was there anger over the FIR?
The FIR came on 16 August, days after the assault, and the opposition alleged the parents waited 11 hours at the station. Police denied a long delay. The High Court criticised it.
How many people were arrested after the Badlapur protest?
PTI reported 72 arrests under four FIRs; The Wire, citing Indian Express, reported at least 66 arrests and over 400 people booked.
Was the Maharashtra bandh held?
No. The Bombay High Court barred it on 23 August 2024, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi called it off and held silent protests on 24 August.
How did the accused die?
He was shot dead in a police van on 23 September 2024. Police said he fired first; a magistrate held five policemen responsible.
Sources
- Tribune/PTI: 4 FIRs registered, 72 arrested after violent protests over Badlapur sexual abuse incident, 21 Aug 2024
- The Wire: Badlapur sexual assault of minors: police book over 400 protesters, arrest 66, 21 Aug 2024
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Police lathi-charge protesters at railway station, 20 Aug 2024
- Tribune/PTI: Maharashtra govt suspends 3 cops, woman IPS officer to probe incident, 20 Aug 2024
- Tribune/PTI: Thane erupts as two 4-yr-old girls molested, 21 Aug 2024
- SabrangIndia: Swift action on protesters, delayed justice for sexual assault against minors, Aug 2024
- Business Today: Rahul Gandhi on Badlapur sexual abuse case, 21 Aug 2024
- Tribune/PTI: "Absolutely shocking": no compromise on safety of girls, says Bombay HC, 22 Aug 2024
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Those who feel there is politics behind Badlapur protest are abnormal: Uddhav, 22 Aug 2024
- Deccan Herald: FIR against school authorities for not complying with POCSO Act provisions, 23 Aug 2024
- Bar and Bench: Bombay High Court halts Maha Vikas Aghadi's call for Maharashtra Bandh, 23 Aug 2024
- Tribune/PTI: Bombay High Court restrains political parties from calling Maharashtra bandh, 23 Aug 2024
- Deccan Herald/PTI: HC order against bandh is slap for Opposition: CM Shinde, 23 Aug 2024
- Navbharat Live: MVA withdraws Maharashtra bandh after HC order (Hindi), 23 Aug 2024
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Badlapur incident hit Maharashtra's image: Sharad Pawar, 24 Aug 2024
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Accused shot dead; cops acted in self-defence, say CM, Fadnavis, 23 Sept 2024
- Outlook: Badlapur accused shot dead by cops in "self defense", opposition alleges fake encounter, 23 Sept 2024
- Deccan Herald: Bombay High Court asks why accused was shot in the head, 25 Sept 2024
- LiveLaw: Bombay High Court rejects pre-arrest plea of school chairman and secretary, 1 Oct 2024
- Deccan Herald: Judicial commission to probe Akshay Shinde's death, 2 Oct 2024
- Tribune/PTI: Accused school trustees arrested, 2 Oct 2024
- AIR News: Trustees of Badlapur school re-arrested, 3 Oct 2024
- Tribune/PTI: 5 cops responsible for Badlapur accused's death in custody, 20 Jan 2025
- Free Press Journal: Magistrate finds police responsible for custodial death, 20 Jan 2025
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Court keeps in abeyance findings indicting cops, 26 Feb 2025
- LiveLaw: Bombay High Court "shocked" as Thane court stays magistrate's finding, 27 Feb 2025
- Bar and Bench: Badlapur encounter: Bombay High Court orders SIT probe, 7 Apr 2025
- Tribune/PTI: HC directs FIR against 5 cops, orders SIT probe, 7 Apr 2025
- Free Press Journal: Maharashtra govt seeks SC clarification on FIR against policemen, 10 May 2025
- Deccan Herald: Maharashtra DGP forms new SIT in Badlapur accused encounter case, 15 May 2025
- ETV Bharat: Co-accused in sexual abuse case resigns as Kulgaon-Badlapur BJP corporator, 10 Jan 2026
- Free Press Journal: Badlapur POCSO row forces BJP retreat as Tushar Apte resigns, 10 Jan 2026