Six Byculla jail staff were charge-sheeted for the murder of inmate Manjula Shetye. The Mumbai crime branch submitted the charge sheet to the Esplanade court on Tuesday.
Three months after the six were arrested, they have now been charged with murder, destruction of evidence, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy with common intention. However, there is no clarity on the sexual assault charge. The inmate who filed the FIR had claimed that a lathi was inserted into Shetye’s private parts, but this does not find a mention in the charge sheet
The six officials, including jailer Manisha Pokharkar, and constables Bindu Naikade, Waseema Shaikh, Shital Shegaonkar, Surekha Gulve and Aarti Shingne, were arrested on July 1. After the probe, the crime branch had to file the charge sheet within 90 days of the date of the arrest. This deadline expires on Thursday.
Shetye, a life convict, was allegedly assaulted by the officials of Byculla prison on June 23 after she complained against them for providing fewer eggs and bread. The police recorded the complaint of an inmate, who was an eyewitness, on June 25.
The charge sheet runs into around 990 pages and includes statements of around 187 witnesses and Shetye’s medical reports. Most of the witnesses cited in the charge sheet are the jail inmates, including Indrani Mukerjea and other jail staff, who were in Byculla jail on the day of the murder. Apart from this, the agency also cited doctors and investigating officers along with Shetye’s family members as witnesses in the case.
The agency has relied on CCTV footage and the statements of the inmates present at the time of the incident to prove the case against the six accused. The agency, however, did not submit the footage before the court. It will be submitted later, sources claimed.
{{/usCountry}}The agency has relied on CCTV footage and the statements of the inmates present at the time of the incident to prove the case against the six accused. The agency, however, did not submit the footage before the court. It will be submitted later, sources claimed.
{{/usCountry}}The prosecution also submitted two separate applications pleading they be allowed to continue with the investigation. The agency also pleaded that the copy of the charge sheet be handed over only after the court staff is done scrutinising the documents and records submitted by the crime branch.
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