Fadnavis Slams Opposition Over Police Encounter Controversy

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the opposition of double standards for criticizing the police after Akshay Shinde, accused in a sexual assault case, was killed in a police encounter. Fadnavis defended the police action and questioned the opposition's motive, suggesting attempts were made to demoralize the police.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday accused the opposition parties of having double standards and trying to demoralize the police over the fatal shooting of Akshay Shinde, the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case.

Shinde, 24, was killed in retaliatory police firing while being escorted from Taloja jail to Badlapur in Thane. Shinde, who was arrested last month for sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur, was killed earlier this week. The opposition parties condemned Shinde's death, questioning both the chain of events and the intent behind the police's actions.

Speaking at the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme event in Shirdi, Fadnavis criticized the opposition for their stance. 'These people have double standards. They support encounters in other states but question our police's need to retaliate. This seems to be an attempt to demoralize the police,' he said. He also addressed a recent incident where a woman vandalized his name plate, suggesting that the act might have been politically motivated.

(With inputs from agencies.)