Badlapur Sexual Assault Case: SIT Formed, Child Rights Body Finds 'Systemic Failure' — Here's What Happened So Far

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the sexual assault case of two four-year-old girls at a private school in Maharashtra's Badlapur.

The action comes after thousands of parents protested for 12 hours at the Badlapur railway station and dispersed only after a police lathi-charge, The Hindu reported.

The accused is identified as a 24-year-old cleaning staff, Akshay Shinde. Parents alleged that there was a delay in action against the accused and demanded capital punishment for him.

The incident happened on 12 and 13 August in the washroom of the nursery school and the FIR was lodged on 16 August under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The accused has also been booked under sections 65(2) (rape on girl under 12 years of age), 74 (assault or criminal force with the intent to outrage modesty), 75 (sexual harassment offences), and 76 (assault or criminal force used with the intent to disrobe) of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also promised to fast-track the case. A senior police inspector, assistant sub-inspector and head constable of the Badlapur police station have been suspended for delayed action.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "IG Rank officer IPS Arti Singh is appointed to conduct the inquiry. The chargesheet will be immediately filed, and this matter will be heard in the fast-track court."

Meanwhile, a preliminary inquiry by the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has found that the school did not have CCTV cameras and did not conduct background checks on the accused. 

CM Shinde had asked to check whether the school had a Sakhi Savitri Committee. MSCPCR Chairperson Susieben Shah told Indian Express that the school did not have this committee.

"There was a systemic failure that let the girls down. The school tried to keep it under wraps, the police took 12 hours to register an FIR, while the medical examination of the girls was delayed by 10 hours and they refused them admission," she added.

Similar concerns were raised by the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Priyank Kanoongo. A team is being sent to Thane and its probe will be monitored by NCPCR.