Poster Wars Erupt Over Badlapur Assault Case: Fadnavis and Shinde Factions Clash

In the aftermath of the police encounter that led to the death of Akshay Shinde, the prime suspect in the Badlapur sexual assault case, tensions have escalated between two factions of Maharashtra’s ruling coalition. Public displays claiming credit for Shinde's elimination have emerged, signaling a fierce struggle for political recognition.

Following Shinde's controversial death, which police described as an act of self-defense, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena celebrated the event by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets in Badlapur. In response, mysterious posters appeared across Mumbai featuring Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. These posters, prominently displaying the phrase “Badla Pura” (revenge completed), were spotted in key locations such as Kherwadi, Andheri, Lalbaug, and Sion Circles.

While the posters did not explicitly name their sponsors, they are believed to have been organized by leaders within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The billboards, which surfaced around midnight on Tuesday, depicted Fadnavis—who also holds the position of home minister—armed with a revolver. The bold message suggested that Fadnavis played a crucial role in delivering justice for the brutal crime against two minor schoolgirls in Badlapur.

Akshay Shinde, a 24-year-old contractual worker at the local school, was facing serious charges of sexual assault. His death occurred during an encounter where he allegedly seized a policeman’s revolver and fired at law enforcement while being transported from Taloja jail to Badlapur for questioning in a separate case related to his former wife.

Following the encounter, supporters of Shinde’s Shiv Sena celebrated the police action in both Badlapur and Nashik, indicating their approval of the authorities' response. Both Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis defended the police actions, while opposition members accused the government of orchestrating a planned execution to shield other suspects involved in the case. Notably, several other accused parties, including school trustees, remain at large.

Additionally, other posters have emerged across Mumbai that seem to be promoting the BJP’s current approach to law enforcement. These banners, which compare the present government’s policing with that of the previous Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration, assert in Marathi, “During the MVA rule, police collected money on behalf of the government; now, the police protect the public.”

As the saga unfolds, the clash between Shinde and Fadnavis factions raises questions about accountability and justice in Maharashtra’s political landscape.