The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decision to nominate Tushar Apte, a co-accused in the high-profile Badlapur school sexual abuse case, as a co-opted municipal councillor has sparked a fresh wave of political and social outrage in Maharashtra's Thane district.
Appointment Reignites Old Wounds
The controversy resurfaced after the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council finalized the selection of five co-opted councillors on Friday. The BJP nominated two individuals, one of whom is Tushar Apte. The other appointees include Shagof Gore (BJP), Prabhakar Patil (NCP), and Dilip Baikar and Hemant Chature from the Shiv Sena. Council Chairperson Ruchita Ghorpade formally confirmed these appointments.
Tushar Apte's name is intrinsically linked to the harrowing Badlapur incident that triggered widespread public protests. Apte served as the secretary of the school trust where two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a sweeper within the school premises in 2024. A case was registered against the school management, including Apte, under Section 21(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for failing to report the crime to authorities.
The Case and Its Dramatic Turns
According to the case details, Apte was arrested 44 days after the incident but secured bail within 48 hours. The legal proceedings against him are currently sub judice, meaning the court has not yet delivered a verdict on his culpability.
The main accused, school sweeper Akshay Shinde, was arrested in August 2024. In a dramatic development, Shinde was killed on September 23, 2024, in an alleged police encounter. Police reported that he snatched an officer's firearm and opened fire while being transported from Taloja prison for questioning in a separate case, leading to retaliatory action.
Political Defence and Public Backlash
Defending the controversial nomination, BJP councillor Rajan Ghorpade presented Apte as a social activist and office-bearer of a reputed educational institution. He argued that Apte's guilt has not been legally established and credited his nomination to his contributions to party work and election efforts.
However, this justification has done little to quell public anger. The appointment has brought back painful memories for the local community, which had demanded stringent accountability from the school management and stronger child protection measures during the massive protests that followed the abuse case.
The move is seen as a significant test for the political parties involved, particularly the BJP, balancing internal party rewards against public sentiment and the gravity of the charges linked to the appointee.
