Badlapur schoolgirl sexual abuse case: The Bombay High Court on Thursday questioned the Maharashtra Police over why the statement of the second victim was not recorded in the case of alleged sexual abuse of two minor girls in a school in Badlapur in Thane district.

The bench, comprising Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Prithviraj K Chavan, also asked the police to provide details of the steps taken to protect the two girls and said it would look into the measures.

“We are appalled that the Badlapur police did not record the statement of the second victim under Section 164,” the judges said.

“Since this is an auto-filed PIL on larger issues, the safety and integrity of girls cannot be compromised. Unless there is a strong public outcry, the machinery will not work,” the court observed.

The Bombay High Court also reprimanded the Badlpaur school authorities for not reporting the sexual abuse to the police despite knowing about it. The High Court also hoped that “no stone will be left unturned to ensure justice”.

Justice Mohite-Dere questioned the Maharashtra Police as to why the statements were delayed in the case. She said, “They (police) have recorded the statements so late. The incident took place on August 13 and the FIR is dated 16, the statement has been recorded now? Why were the statements of the parents not recorded earlier? The duty of the police officer is to record the statements as per the procedures. We are interested in ensuring that the victims get justice.”

The bench also observed that the statement of the father of one of the victims was recorded only after the PIL was registered ex officio yesterday and belatedly after midnight.