In a shocking turn of events, posters featuring Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis holding a gun surfaced across Mumbai and nearby cities on September 25. The emergence of these posters comes just two days after the death of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the notorious Badlapur school sexual assault case. The posters boldly declare “Badla Pura” (The revenge is complete), implying a connection between Fadnavis and Shinde’s demise in a police encounter.
The posters display doctored images of Fadnavis, brandishing both a pistol and a rifle, seemingly attempting to credit him for the death of the alleged perpetrator, who had faced public outrage following accusations of sexually assaulting two four-year-old girls in a school toilet in Badlapur. The community’s anger towards Shinde was palpable, given the heinous nature of his alleged crimes.
Despite being active on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on the same day the posters appeared, there was no immediate response from Fadnavis regarding this provocative incident. The posters have raised significant concerns over the underlying tensions in the community and the potential implications for political discourse in Maharashtra.
According to the police’s account, Akshay Shinde was being transported from Taloja Jail to Badlapur when he allegedly managed to snatch a firearm from a police officer and opened fire. The police reported that Shinde was killed in the ensuing exchange of gunfire, which they characterized as an act of self-defense. However, one police officer, identified as Sanjay Shinde, sustained injuries from the gunfire during the incident that took place near the Mumbra bypass.
Shinde’s parents, however, have expressed skepticism regarding the police’s narrative, claiming that their son was murdered by law enforcement. Anna Shinde, Akshay’s father, articulated his disbelief to the Press Trust of India (PTI), stating, “My son was scared of bursting crackers. How could he snatch a pistol from a police officer and open fire?” This remark underscores the family’s profound doubt about the official account of events.
In light of these concerns, Akshay’s father has taken legal action, approaching the Bombay High Court on Tuesday to demand an investigation into his son’s custodial death. He has requested an urgent hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday, amid growing public demand for accountability and transparency in the handling of such sensitive cases.
The posters linking Fadnavis to Shinde’s death not only reflect the volatile public sentiment surrounding the case but also illustrate the complexities of law enforcement and public trust in Maharashtra’s justice system. As the investigation unfolds, the implications for political leaders and the broader community remain significant, raising questions about accountability, justice, and the politicization of tragic events.
