Badlapur accused was aggressive, fired thrice: Cop who shot him in ‘self-defence’

Police Inspector Sanjay Shinde, who shot Badlapur sex abuse accused Akshay Shinde, said that he opened fire in self-defense and in order to protect his colleagues. Sanjay Shinde was among the four cops present inside the police van when Akshay Shinde was killed in encounter while being transported from Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai to Thane.
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Sanjay Shinde spoke in detail regarding the encounter involving accused Akshay Shinde.
According to Inspector Shinde, he was seated next to the driver while Akshay Shinde and several constables, including Assistant Police Inspector (API) Nilesh More, were in the back. During the journey along Shilphata Road, Shinde received a call from API More, informing him that Akshay Shinde was becoming aggressive, questioning his arrest and using abusive language.
“Akshay Shinde asked cops inside the police van ‘Why are you taking me again? What I have done now?’ He was abusing cops. He further said that he will not leave anyone alive,” Sanjay Shinde said, recalling the scene.
Inspector Shinde then stopped the vehicle and attempted to calm Akshay Shinde by sitting with him and the officers. However, as the van reached the Mumbra bypass at around 6.15 pm, the situation escalated.
Inspector Shinde said that Akshay grabbed API More’s pistol, and during the ensuing struggle, the weapon discharged, injuring More in the thigh, and he collapsed due to the injury.
Inspector Shinde said that the accused then threatened him and the other officers, firing two more rounds, both of which missed.
Fearing for his life and the safety of his colleagues, Inspector Shinde stated that he acted in self-defence, firing a single shot at Akshay Shinde, which incapacitated him. Akshay collapsed inside the van, and the officers regained control of the situation.
According to the official, the encounter saw a total of four rounds fired, with one shot from Akshay Shinde injuring API More, followed by two missed shots, and the final shot by him in self-defence.
All shell casings were recovered from the van by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and police teams investigating the incident.
Inspector Shinde maintained that his actions were necessary to protect himself and his colleagues in a life-threatening situation.
Meanwhile, sources said that the police have requested the case to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), as it is expected to be treated as a custodial death. The CID will investigate any potential breaches in the standard operating procedures (SOP) for handling prisoners during transit.