The recent encounter of Badlapur rape accused Akshay Shinde at the controversial Mumbra Bypass has raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the encounter. The three-to-four-kilometre stretch became notorious when the prime witness in the Ambani bomb scare case was allegedly killed by the police, and his body was abandoned in a nearby creek in March 2021. This entire stretch lacks CCTV surveillance, making it an isolated spot, potentially aiding in the destruction of evidence.

The absence of evidence and witnesses has led to speculation and concern, particularly among the Opposition, who are criticising the police for their handling of the case. The fact that a similar incident—Mansukh Hiren’s murder, a key witness in the Ambani bomb threat case—happened on this same stretch has fueled the controversy.