Badlapur minor assault: Bombay High Court asks why police hasn't arrested school trustees

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday questioned the Mumbai Police for its inaction in arresting the trustees of the Badlapur school in which two kindergarten girl students were allegedly sexually abused.

A Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and PK Chavan expressed dissatisfaction with the police and asked whether it was waiting for the accused to be granted anticipatory bail.

"How come this two persons are not nabbed by now? Are you waiting for them to get anticipatory bail?" the Court questioned.

To this, the Advocate General Birendra Saraf expressed his strong objection and informed the court that the anticipatory bail plea of the two accused is slated to be heard by a single-judge. He submitted that the State is taking all necessary steps to arrest the accused and the bail will be heard in some time by a single judge.

The Court was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) taking cognizance of the incident in Thane's Badlapur.

Advocate General (AG) Birendra Saraf informed the Court that two chargesheets have been filed in connection with the case, on on September 16 and 21. He added that the trustees of the school had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail after they had been denied the same by the lower court.

The Court then expressed its dissatisfaction with the absence of the head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in court. It also criticised the Mumbai police for not having arrested the two trustees.

In response to the Court's concerns about other procedures, the AG stated that a committee would meet for the first time today to discuss the implementation of interim directions.

The Court suggested that a consolidated government resolution (GR) be issued rather than piecemeal updates, to which the AG agreed.

Further, the informant's counsel Advocate Ajinkya Gaikwad informed the Court that copies of the chargesheets have not yet been provided to them.

The Court emphasized the importance of keeping the complainants informed at every stage of the investigation.

Therefore, it directed that copies of the chargesheets be delivered to both complainants by tomorrow.

Further, Gaikwad informed the Court that the victims are not yet to be provided with compensation and assistance to join a different school. To this, the AG informed the Court that he will ensure that everything gets done.

The Bench while adjourning the matter observed that it will not allow anybody to use the Court to further their political discourse.

"We are here only to ensure justice," the Bench made it clear.

The matter will be heard next on October 23.

[Read live coverage of the hearing]