Crime
Badlapur Sexual Assault Case: Maharashtra Govt Challenges Sessions Court Judge’s Order, Unclear On Filing FIR Against Policemen

Mumbai: The state government has challenged before the Bombay High Court the order of the Thane sessions judge by which it kept “in abeyance” the findings of magistrate inquiry report implicating policemen in the death of accsued in the Badlapur sexual assault case. The State, however, remained non-committal on whether it would register an FIR against the policemen concerned based on the report.
Public Prosecutor Hiteen Venegaonkar informed a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale that they have filed an application before the HC challenging the February 21 order of the Thane sessions court keeping in abeyance the magistrate’s report questioning the legitimacy of the alleged encounter.
On a specific question by the bench on whether an FIR would be lodged against the five policemen based on the findings of the magistrate report, the State maintained that the observations in the magistraterial report cannot be a basis for an FIR.
Senior counsel Amit Desai, appearing for the government, said the an independent investigation is being conducted by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in addition to a probe by an inquiry committee headed by retired judge of Allahabad HC, DB Bhosale. Hence, said that the State will wait for the conclusion of the CID probe before taking any decision.
“State believes that the investigation is ongoing and based upon it’s outcome, it will decide whether FIR is needed to be filed; or no cognisable offence is made and a closure report has to be filed,” Desai underlined.
Desai submitted that it can’t be said that the magistrate’s report “constitutes as evidence to lodge an FIR”. “We are doing our bit and there is nothing to suggest that the investigating officers (of CID) are acting in a mala fide manner for the court to intervene,” he added.
The bench again pointedly asked whether the State proposes to lodge an FIR. “Once that the report has come, our question is whether it is incumbent on the state to register an FIR or not. Today, the question is whether the state proposes to lodge an FIR or not? Say yes or no,” the court asked.
Desai emphasised that the independent probe was on and at this stage it is not permissible for the court to order registering of an FIR based on the magistrate’s inquiry report. The court will continue hearing the matter on March 10.
Last week, the HC had appointed senior advocate Manjula Rao as amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist with the plea after Shinde’s parents expressed that they did not wish to pursue the case. Rao has been asked to assist the court on several issues, including whether an FIR ought to be registered by the State based on the magistrate’s report. The issue arose after the State argued that the magistrate’s report was only recommendatory.
The father had initially filed a petition claiming that his son was killed in a fake encounter.
Meanwhile, the State’s application against Thane sessions court order would be taken up for hearing after two weeks by Justice RN Laddha. The government has contended that the sessions judge order was “wrong, illegal and against the facts and circumstances of the case”. It contended that the sessions court had failed to consider the fact that the HC was seized of the matter related to the alleged encounter of the accused.
The HC had last week censured the sessions judge for the order.
Shinde had been arrested by the Badlapur police for allegedly sexually assaulting minor girls at a local school. While in judicial custody at Taloja Prison, he was taken into police custody on September 23 via a transfer warrant in connection with a second FIR lodged by his wife. However, during transit, he sustained firearm injuries and later succumbed.
The magistrate’s report, prepared on January 17, raised suspicion on the claims made by the five cops that they had to shoot at the accused in self-defence after he allegedly snatched a gun from them while being escorted. The magistrate noted the policemen, including two inspector-level officers, were in a position to control the situation and the use of force by them was not justified.
Crime
Mahim Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man For Sexually Abusing Two Minor Boys Under Pretext Of Video Games; Case Registered Under POCSO Act

Mumbai: The Mahim police have arrested a 37-year-old man on Thursday, for allegedly sexually abusing two minor boys, aged seven and eight, after luring them to his home under the pretext of letting them play video games.
The accused has been booked under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police are investigating if the accused has a history of similar offenses.
The incident came to light on Wednesday evening when one of the victims informed his mother about the ordeal. The mother promptly filed a complaint with the police, leading to the swift apprehension of the accused.
According to police, the accused reportedly offered the boys money before the alleged abuse. One of the victims was admitted to Bhabha Hospital for treatment after complaining of pain to his mother. Both children are friends.
The Mahim police have registered a case under Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the POCSO Act. While initial checks have not revealed any prior criminal history for the accused, police are investigating if he has a history of similar offenses.
Crime
Delhi: Three thieves arrested, six stolen phones recovered

crime
New Delhi, June 20: Three thieves were arrested and six stolen mobile phones were recovered along with a dummy pistol and a scooter used in multiple crimes by the Tilak Marg Police in Delhi, an official said on Friday.
The accused have been identified as Arbaz (22) of Sarai Kale Khan, Pankaj Mourya (22) of Jungpura, and Rahul Bagh (26) of Chirag Delhi.
“Six stolen mobile phones, one dummy pistol and a scooter used in the crime were recovered from the accused,” said Delhi Police in a statement.
The official said that the arrested accused had been selling stolen mobile phones on e-commerce platforms using fake Aadhaar cards and forged invoices.
The breakthrough in the case came after a complaint was filed by a Blinkit delivery boy, who reported the theft of his mobile phone, stating that it was stolen while he was delivering an order on Pandara Road.
The accused had tricked him by pretending to make an online payment before fleeing with his mobile phone. An E-FIR (No. 80056549/2025) was registered under Section 303(2) BNS at PS Tilak Marg on June 13, 2025.
A special team led by SI Kamlesh Kumar, along with HC Sanjeet Kumar, Ct. Jhabbar Mal and Ct. Ram Tyagi worked under the supervision of SHO Gurmail Singh and ACP Nageen Kaushik to crack the case.
CCTV footage from the area showed the culprits fleeing on a scooter. Order details from Blinkit and further analysis of internet logs helped police trace one suspect to Sarai Kale Khan. However, he vacated the premises a month ago.
Using technical surveillance and informants, police eventually tracked the trio to a rented house in Chhatarpur.
So far, three E-FIRs from Tilak Marg, Kalkaji, and Vasant Kunj South, and one lost report from Sunlight Colony, have been worked out with these arrests.
The official said that further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the racket and recover additional stolen items.
Crime
Honeymoon murder case: Meghalaya Police question over 20 people in Indore

Indore, June 19: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Meghalaya Police, which arrived here on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing investigation pertaining to the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, has questioned around 20 people, including Sonam and Raj Kushwaha’s family members, to date.
Apart from the family members, Meghalaya Police also visited Sonam’s brother Govind Raghuvanshi’s plywood factory and questioned employees working there, who were known to Sonam and Raj Kushwaha, key accused in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi.
During cross-examination of arrested accused — Sonam, her alleged boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and his three friends — the Meghalaya Police learnt that they had discussed the entire plan to execute crime at a restaurant located in Super Corridor area in Indore.
The owner of the restaurant, where Sonam and Raj Kushwaha along with others reportedly planned the murder, is also said to be ‘under suspicion’.
Speaking to media on Thursday, he said that he came to know about the sensational murder case from news reports.
“A number of customers visit my restaurant every day, so I can’t remember them. Yes, there is one corner area here (at restaurant) where people sit for hours. But we just take orders from them and serve,” restaurant owner Jai Soni said.
Asked if Meghalaya or Indore police visited his restaurant for investigation, he said: “Not yet.”
He added: “We will cooperate if they (police) would visit here. This incident has brought shame for entire Indore city. We will provide them CCTV footage.”
Meghalaya Police on Wednesday visited the Indore residence of Sonam Raghuvanshi — the prime accused in the case pertaining to the murder of her husband Raja Raghuvanshi and questioned her family members in connection with the probe into the case.
The Meghalaya Police team had also visited Raja Raghuvanshi’s home and met his family members, including mother on Tuesday night.
During half-an-hour’s meeting, Meghalaya police asked about Sonam’s behaviour during her three-day stay in Raja’s home.
Notably, Raja and Sonam had got married on May 11 in Indore, and she lived in Raja’s home till May 13. She had returned to her parental home on June 14, and then, the couple had left for their honeymoon trip Meghalaya on May 21.
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