BJP Under Fire as POCSO-Accused Councillor Quits in 24 Hours
The BJP faced sharp public embarrassment after Tushar Aapte, a party office-bearer accused in a POCSO case linked to the Badlapur school sexual abuse scandal, resigned from his nominated councillor post within 24 hours. His nomination triggered outrage from opposition parties and civil society, who accused the party of moral insensitivity. The episode has revived scrutiny of political patronage, institutional lapses, and child protection enforcement in Maharashtra.
Investigative journalist Unmesh Gujarathi and the Sprouts News SIT exposed the Badlapur school sexual abuse case, revealing institutional lapses, political patronage, and delayed accountability, prompting public outrage, resignations, and renewed scrutiny of child protection enforcement in Maharashtra across the state.
Tushar Aapte, currently out on bail, is a school secretary booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for alleged procedural lapses in a child sexual abuse case.
The resignation came barely twenty-four hours after his nomination, following sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups questioning the BJP’s decision to reward an accused individual.
The controversy erupted after BJP and Ajit Pawar faction formed the ruling alliance in the Ambernath Municipal Council, post which Aapte was nominated as a councillor.
Opposition leaders alleged moral insensitivity, claiming the party had “accepted an accused” instead of standing firmly with child protection principles and legal accountability.
Public outrage intensified as details of the Badlapur school sexual assault case resurfaced, drawing renewed scrutiny over institutional failures and political patronage.
Badlapur School Sexual Abuse Case Triggered Nationwide Shock
In August 2024, two minor girl students from a reputed Badlapur school were sexually assaulted, triggering widespread protests and anger across Maharashtra and other parts of the country.
Investigations revealed that school chairman Uday Kotwal and secretary Tushar Aapte allegedly discouraged parents from filing complaints and removed fifteen days of CCTV footage.
Police later booked both under Section 21(2) of the POCSO Act for failure to report the offence, naming them co-accused in the ongoing criminal investigation.
Following the registration of the case, both Kotwal and Aapte reportedly absconded, intensifying public anger and raising questions over administrative delays and political shielding.
After nearly thirty-five days, police arrested the duo from a farmhouse in Karjat, bringing temporary relief to protesting parents and activists demanding accountability.
Both accused are currently out on bail, while trial proceedings continue in the Kalyan District Sessions Court under close public and judicial observation.
BJP Backtracks After Media Reports and Political Pressure
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, BJP nominated Aapte as a councillor soon after assuming power, triggering strong criticism across print, digital, and political platforms.
Newspaper reports highlighting the nomination sparked outrage, with critics calling the move ethically indefensible and damaging to public trust in governance.
Sources confirmed intense political communication between Mumbai and Nagpur following the backlash, forcing the party leadership to reconsider the controversial appointment.
Within twenty-four hours, party leaders instructed Aapte to resign, marking a rare and swift reversal driven by reputational damage and sustained public pressure.
Aapte subsequently submitted his resignation to the Ambernath municipal chief officer, attempting to downplay the controversy through a carefully worded public statement.
He claimed the resignation aimed to prevent damage to the school’s reputation and the party’s image, a justification widely criticised as evasive and insensitive.
Also Read: Nashik POCSO Case Exposes Troubling Gaps in Child Protection.
Allegations of Nagpur-Level Intervention in Nomination
Tushar Aapte is known as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteer and local BJP functionary with longstanding organisational connections in the region.
He had earlier sought an elected councillor ticket, which was denied by BJP MLA Kisan Kathore, who instead supported two preferred local candidates.
Local political circles claim Aapte escalated his grievance directly to Nagpur, following which instructions allegedly came to accommodate him as a nominated councillor.
While the party has not officially confirmed these claims, the episode has intensified debates over centralised decision-making and accountability within political organisations.
BJP Faces Fresh Criticism Over Riot-Accused Deputy Chairperson
Even as criticism over Aapte’s nomination continued, BJP faced another controversy in Badlapur Municipal Council involving the appointment of Priyanka Damle as deputy chairperson.
Damle faces criminal cases related to rioting, registered by Badlapur West Police Station and Railway Police following violent protests after the school sexual abuse incident.
Police records allege she used social media to mobilise crowds, provoke unrest, and incite violence during emotionally charged demonstrations in the town.
The back-to-back appointments have raised serious questions about political ethics, candidate vetting, and the message sent to victims in sensitive criminal cases.
Political analysts warn such decisions risk eroding public faith in institutions, particularly when child protection, law enforcement credibility, and governance standards intersect.
