He retaliated in self-defence as Akshay's demeanor suggested he would kill everyone, said inspector Sanjay Shinde, who shot the accused dead.

Akshay Shinde, accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case who died in an alleged shootout, had said he would not spare anyone after grabbing a pistol inside a police van, an official claimed on Tuesday.

The Maharashtra government said that the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) will conduct a probe into his death. The CID team is expected to visit the Mumbra bypass crime scene and take statements from the police officers who were present during the incident.

Shiv Sena workers celebrated the death of Akshay Shinde, accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case, in an alleged police encounter. Celebrations included bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.

Akshay, accused of raping two nursery girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane, was shot by the cop in a police vehicle after he allegedly snatched a gun of a policeman and fired at police personne

Sanjay Shinde, the cop whose bullets killed the accused, had previously worked with the anti-extortion cell of the Thane Police Crime Branch, then headed by Pradeep Sharma

Akshay Shinde, 24, was accused of sexually assaulting two minor girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane district, which triggered massive outrage in Maharashtra. He was killed in a retaliatory firing by police on Monday.

Sanjay initially served in Mumbai Police and now is a part of the Special Investigation Team, formed by the state government to probe the Badlapur sexual assault case.

The Thane police have registered a case of attempt to murder against Badlapur sexual assault crime accused Akshay Shinde, after he allegedly opened fire at cops, and also filed a case of his accidental death,