The Maharashtra government on Tuesday informed the Bombay High Court that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was formed to probe the case Badlapur sexual assault case in a school filed two indictments against the accused, including school administrators.

In August this year, Akshay Shinde, 23, allegedly sexually assaulted two nursery school girls at a school in Badlapur in Thane district of Maharashtra. He was later killed in a reprisal fire after grabbing a police officer’s gun and opening fire.

Attorney General Hiten Venegaonkar, appearing before a bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan, said since the SIT completed its task, it has been dissolved.

He further added that an ongoing departmental inquiry against Badlapur police officials for their negligence in handling a sensitive case of sexually assaulted children had also been completed, adding that a female inspector had been suspended in this affair.

“A policewoman, who was the senior inspector of Badlpur police station, was suspended after the departmental inquiry. Her increment for two years was also suspended,” Venegaonkar said.

Two police officers were given stern warnings for not taking the matter seriously, Venegaonkar added.

While taking suo motu notice of the inaction of the Badlapur police, the bench had ordered the constitution of an expert committee to look into the safety of children in schools and other educational institutions. Venegaonkar told the bench on Tuesday that the commission would submit its report by January 2025.

During the hearing, lawyer Amit Katarnaware, representing the parents of accused Akshay Shinde, who was killed in a reprisal firing by the police, pointed out that the family had suddenly disappeared and despite their best efforts, they had not been able to contact them. . Katarnaware expressed apprehension about their well-being.

The family had previously said they were receiving threats and were therefore living at a bus stop. Venegaonkar maintained that the family had been given police protection but had refused. Katarnaware, however, rejected the claim and said the family never refused police protection.

The court ordered the family to appear and will further hear the issue of police protection of the accused’s family on December 19.