Maharashtra: Two separate chargesheets filed by SIT before special POCSO court in Badlapur minors sexual harassment case

Thane (Maharashtra) [India], September 20 (ANI): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted for investigation into the Badlapur school sexual harassment cases with two minor girls has filed its charge sheets in a special POCSO court in Badlapur, police sources said.
The first charge sheet in this case was filed on Monday this week, and the second charge sheet was filed on Thursday.
The special investigation team has filed two separate charge sheets because both the incidents were of different dates, and thus there were two separate FIRs against the same set of accused in both cases. According to police sources, charge sheets filed in both cases are against the same set of accused Akshay Shinde and others. Both the chargesheets are nearly 500 pages each, and in both cases there is sufficient evidence against the accused, claims the official.
Detailing the evidence submitted with the charge sheet, officials said that apart from multiple statements from the witnesses related to this case, there is technical and medical evidence strongly supporting the police case.
Apart from the statements of the witnesses, there are also two separate statements of the accused that come under extrajudicial confessions where he has confessed to having committed the crimes, one statement that was given to the police during his interrogation, and another statement that he has given before the doctor during his medical examination.
Apart from all these evidences, the most crucial part of the evidence is that during the test identification parade, both the victims have identified the accused, and that is also part of the charge sheet. In addition to this, both the victims have also recorded their statements before the magistrate under Section 183 of BNSS.
Police sources said that though the CCTV footage of the school premises was not available for police for their investigation because CCTV was not functioning in the school premises, but fortunately, the CCTV camera just outside the school gate installed by Badlapur Municipal Corporation became crucial evidence in this case, and that footage of the CCTV camera is also part of both sheets.
The alleged sexual assault case has sparked outrage across the state, with multiple protests demonstrating outrage over the incident were held across the country.
On August 17, police arrested an attendant of the school for allegedly abusing the girls. (ANI)