Adarsh School Badlapur Sexual Abuse Case: From Massive Protests to CM Eknath Shinde’s Response, Here Are 10 Key Details

Mumbai, August 20: Two girls studying in a nursery in Badlapur's Adarsh Vidya Mandir School near Mumbai, Maharashtra, were allegedly sexually abused by a male cleaner on August 12 and 13. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under Inspector General of Police Arti Singh. Know 10 key points related to the Badlapur sexual abuse case of two minor girls in Adarsh School.

1. The two schoolgirls were only aged three and four and studied in a nursery, where they were allegedly sexually abused by a male cleaning staff member in the school's washroom. The girls reported of being touched inappropriately by the man to their parents.

2. The assault was revealed when one of the girls confided in her grandfather and complained of pain in her private parts on August 18. The parents of the children visited a doctor, who confirmed that the minors had been sexually assaulted.

3. A police case was filed by the parents against the male staff under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

4. The main accused in the case has been identified as Akshay Shinde, a 23-year-old male cleaning staff member at Adarsh School. He was appointed as a sweeper on August 1, 2024, on a contractual basis. He was reportedly hired from a blacklisted firm that provides housekeeping services.

Badlapur Railway Station Protest Against the Adarsh School Sexual Abuse Case

5. On August 17, the Thane Police arrested Shinde for allegedly abusing the two girls. The Badlapur Police also transferred the police station in-charge, Subhada Shitole, for allegedly failing to act in time after the parents filed the case. The parents were allegedly made to wait for 11 hours by the women police personnel. Adarsh School Badlapur Sexual Assault Case To Be Tried in Fast-Track Court, Says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde; Warns Action Against School Management.

6. The school management is under questioning, as the assault took place when the girls went to use the toilet, where there were no female staff appointed. The management has suspended the principal, a class teacher and a female attendant, holding them responsible for the incident. They further tended an apology for the same.

7. After the case came to public knowledge, mass protests erupted in the Badlapur area, primarily at the Badlapur railway station and the Adarsh school premises. The agitators, including parents of similar school-going children, hurled stones as they stormed the school and vandalised it. They also blocked trains with a 'Rail Roko' protest since around 8 AM IST on August 20. With slogans to demand action and punish the guilty, multiple trains to and fro Badlapur have been redirected or suspended as a result of the protests.

8. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde warned of legal action if the school management was found negligent. He also called for checking whether Sakhi Savitri committees (designed to support and safeguard students) were established in the school. Mentioning that the accused will be charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the CM added in his statement to the press, "We are in the process to fast-track this case, and no one will be spared if found guilty." Badlapur Adarsh School Sexual Assault Case: 'SIT Is Formed, No One Will Be Spared if Found Guilty’, Says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.

9. The proposal, based on Vishakha Committee recommendations for improving school safety, have been propounded by Maharashtra's Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar. It includes the installation of complaint boxes in every school, enhancing scrutiny of school staff who interact with students, and increasing vigilance on the school premises. "If the directors are at fault, action will be taken against them,” the CM added while addressing the media.

10. Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the entire state was outraged and seeks justice. "I once again urge the Rashtrapati Bhavan to approve the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, (so that) no other child or woman faces this travesty. Shame on the state government to continue to ignore the safety of women," Chaturvedi was quoted by The Times of India as saying.

Women and Child Helpline Numbers:

Childline India – 1098; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women / Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/ 1291; Missing Child and Women – 1094.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2024 06:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).