On Wednesday, a local court extended the police custody of the man accused of sexually abusing two girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra’s Thane district, until August 26.

The accused, who worked as an attendant at the school, was presented before a magistrate in Kalyan, Thane district, under strict security measures.

In response to the alleged assault, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a statewide “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24. 

Following the Badlapur case, the Maharashtra education department has instructed all schools in the state to install CCTV cameras within a month.

The Kalyan Bar Association has urged its members not to take on the case of the accused arrested in connection with the Badlapur sexual abuse case.

A police official reported that initial investigations indicate some anti-social elements exploited the protest in Badlapur on Tuesday. Authorities are looking into how such a large crowd assembled at the Badlapur railway station and are reviewing phone calls and videos related to the incident.

In response to the violent protests, internet services in Badlapur were suspended on Wednesday. Officials stated that 72 people have been arrested for their involvement in the unrest, which included stone-pelting that injured at least 25 police personnel. Protesters blocked railway tracks and stormed the school building, demanding justice for the alleged abuse of two kindergarten girls.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a special investigation team led by senior IPS officer Arti Singh. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pledged that action would be taken against the school and those responsible for the abuse.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule criticized the state government for its handling of the case and called for Fadnavis, who oversees the home portfolio, to resign. Sule accused the Shinde administration of neglecting women's safety while focusing on political maneuvering.

Chief Minister Shinde, in turn, claimed that the protest was politically motivated and intended to damage the state's reputation. He described many of the protesters as “outsiders” and criticized the opposition for politicizing the issue.

The local court has extended the police custody of the accused until August 26. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has called for a statewide “Maharashtra bandh” on August 24 to protest the alleged assault. MVA allies, including Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) headed by Sharad Pawar, have pledged their participation.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad led a demonstration outside the state secretariat, Mantralaya, condemning the incident. Susieben Shah, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, criticized the school for allegedly covering up the crime instead of assisting the parents in filing a police complaint, suggesting that timely action could have prevented the ensuing chaos.