'Recruit Staff After Proper Background Check': Maharashtra CM Shinde After Assault Of Young Girls In Badlapur School

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said that he has directed the police to take stringent action against the accused and expedite the case through a ‘fast-track court’ after two young girls, aged 4, were allegedly sexually assaulted by the school staff of a prominent school in Badlapur.

“I have already instructed police commissioner to take hard actions against accused and to take in fast track court,” Shinde told CNN-News18 in an interview.

Shinde further stressed that the school administration should keep staff only after a thorough investigation, adding, “I appeals to every schools to proper check the backgrounds,” he said.

Additionally, he noted that any lapses in police administration would not be tolerated. “No one will be spared,” he added.

The accused, Akshay Shinde, a sweeper employed through a third-party company, was arrested after parents pressed for a formal complaint despite initial delays in filing the FIR.

The parents, demanding capital punishment, have sparked widespread protests across Thane district, including a city-wide shutdown and disruption of local train services between Kalyan and Karajat.

The incident also led to administrative changes within the local police force as the senior police inspector of Badlapur police station, who was accused of attempting to suppress the case, was immediately transferred. The parents had alleged that they were forced to wait for over 12 hours to file an FIR.

Principal, Class Teacher Suspended: State Education Minister 

Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar told CNN-News18 that the principal, class teacher, and assistants of the school have been suspended.

“We have mandated CCTV for all schools, but the one here was not functioning. We’ve issued a notice to the management,” he said, assuring that Maharashtra is only state which is implementing child safety measures strictly.

“We will take action against such schools and management; we are strict on child safety,” he stated.

SIT Formed To Probe Incident: Fadnavis

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the incident a “serious matter” and announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the incident.

“This is a very serious matter. We condemn the incident. The SIT has been formed, and we will try to get the case fast tracked so that victims can get justice soon,” Fadnavis said.