Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde orders strict action in Badlapur sexual assault case

Following the protest and politics over the Badlapur incident, CM Eknath Shinde instructed the local police to frame a solid case to ensure the harshest punishment for the culprit. Deputy CM in-charge of Home, Devendra Fadnavis, ordered a SIT probe into the incident to make the case stronger in the fast-track court. He also ordered the suspension of a senior police inspector, assistant police inspector and constable, who have been accused of delaying the FIR. The home department has appointed senior advocate Ujjwal Nikam as a special prosecutor. School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar issued orders to his department to ensure security and safety at private and public schools across the state. He said the availability of physical and digital security apparatus will be ensured.

Devendra Fadnavis, Dy CM, Supriya Sule, NCP-SP leader and CM Eknath Shinde. File pic

IN PHOTOS: Railway commuters witness huge rush at stations as people protest against Badlapur sexual assault

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Opposition slams govt

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule, slammed the government. Thackeray said he was told that the school where the incidents took place was run by a BJP worker. "Whoever the owner is, he should be treated under the law of the land," he said. According to him, the Shakti Bill for checking crime against women was prepared by the MVA, but it could not get it passed because the BJP-Shinde brought the government down. Sule demanded Fadnavis's resignation. She said as per national data, crimes against women were on the rise in Maharashtra. "CM Shinde should sack the home and school education minister."

Don't politicise: Fadnavis

Fadnavis expected Thackeray to behave like a statesman rather than a politician in the wake of a sensitive incident like this. "It seems Thackeray and Sule have nothing to do with the people. They are baking their political bread. Considering the sensitivity of the case, the government and police have acted swiftly to ensure punishment for the accused," he added.

‘Woman IPS officer to probe'

Fadnavis said an inquiry led by a woman IPS officer has been ordered into an incident. Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis said the state government has appointed Arti Singh, an inspector general-rank Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, to conduct the inquiry. "It will be our endeavour to inquire into the incident at the earliest. We want to file the charge sheet in this case as soon as possible and place the matter before a fast-track court for hearing," he said. "Our police department will make complete efforts to get such a barbaric and inhuman act punished immediately," the deputy chief minister added.

Schools to form Vishakha panels, says Kesarkar

Maharashtra School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar on Tuesday said ‘Vishakha committees' will be formed in schools. Schools will face action if CCTV cameras installed on their premises are found to be non-functional, he told reporters. Formation of internal committees to deal with complaints of workplace sexual harassment is mandatory as per the Supreme Court's guidelines in the landmark ‘Vishakha' judgement.

"Vishakha committees will be formed at the school level," Kesarkar said, adding that they will provide a platform for raising grievances to female students, especially those in Std IX, Std X and junior college. There was already a government resolution mandating that schools should have CCTV cameras, but at the school in Badlapur where two girls were allegedly abused the CCTV cameras were not functional, the minister noted.