Tushar Apte, a co-accused in the 2024 Badlapur child sexual abuse case, resigned as a co-opted BJP councillor in the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council after his nomination sparked widespread outrage. Apte, the school's former secretary, was booked under the POCSO Act for allegedly failing to report the offense and was granted bail. While the BJP defended his appointment citing his active party work and unproven guilt, opposition parties and allies criticized it as insensitive. Apte stated he resigned to protect the party's image.