Kaizad pines in custody

Cops turned down director's request for a bigger room, home-made food, cold water and other comforts in the railway station lock-up.

Kaizad Gustad’s life has taken an about-turn: from directing Mumbai Central last week to cooling his heels in the Mumbai Central railway station lock-up now. Gustad and his assistant Ashish Udeshi were arrested and remanded in police custody on Wednesday in connection with the accidental death of Nadia Khan, an assistant director.

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Put in separate cells, Mumbai's humid summer seemed to have taken a toll on Gustad and Udeshi. "Gustad was complaining about the heat and even pleaded for bigger room," said a senior police officer. But the police refused to make any special allowances.

The director's request for home-made food, cold water and other home comforts was also turned down. "He will be treated as any other accused," said the police officer.

Gustad, who was cheerful till the court order was pronounced on Wednesday, was shattered when the judge asked the police to add Section 304 IPC against the accused. "He would never have thought that a serious charge like Section 302 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) would be put against him," said a police officer.

Meanwhile, the Railway Police too have come in for criticism. Darshana Waiti, the female constable who was arrested on Wednesday, has been charged with screening the offenders. During police interrogation she admitted that she was given a bribe of Rs 200 to keep quiet. "It is quite shameful that she acted in this way," said Railway Police commissioner Shirkant Sarvarkar.