Sexual assault in Badlapur: Journalist accuses police of protecting Shinde Sena leader who ‘insulted’ her

The journalist who accused Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Waman Mhatre of making abusive remarks about her while covering the Badlapur sexual assault case claims that the police are working hand in glove with the Maharashtra politician.

The journalist said her testimony was watered down compared to her own statements and what actually happened while covering the incident in August.

The woman had claimed that Mhatre, a former mayor of Badlapur, confronted her when she covered the protest against the sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls.

According to the journalist, who works for a Marathi daily, Mhatre told her that she was “reporting as if she herself had been raped.” However, Mhatre denied these allegations.

The journalist, through her lawyer Sameer Vaidya, also stated that she was put under pressure and therefore requested that the police be directed to record her additional statement and consequently include the relevant sections in the FIR filed against Mhatre.

A case has been filed against Mhatre under the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after the journalist filed a police complaint. She has also challenged Mhatre's interim bail plea in the Bombay High Court.

Mhatre had initially filed an application for interim bail before the Kalyan Sessions Court, but it was rejected.

After the rejection, he approached the Supreme Court through advocate Viresh Purwant, stating that the incident did not occur as alleged by the complainant, a journalist.

“In fact, Mhatre has advised or requested her not to publish any false or untrue news that could instigate the public protesting against the sensitive issues that took place in Badlapur recently,” alleged lawyer Viresh Purwant.

Mhatre claimed that the allegations were made only to damage his reputation in Badlapur and to inflict a political setback on him on behalf of his political rivals.

Mhatre's application for interim bail will now be heard by a bench of Justice Sandeep Marne on October 1.