2011 Mumbai blast accused alleges assault by Taloja jail authorities

The assault, according to Shaikh’s complaint, happened after he resisted a strip search while returning from Vashi municipal hospital.

Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaque Shaikh, an inmate of Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai, has written to state prison authorities claiming to have been assaulted by two officials of the prison. The assault, according to Shaikh’s complaint, happened after he resisted a strip search while returning from Vashi municipal hospital.

The letter, dated March 20, was taken to Upadhyay by Anjum Inamdar, president of Pune Mulnivaasi Muslim Manch.

“When I entered for body frisking/search, the body frisking personnel, Kharbat, forcefully asked for a strip search. When I tried to talk to officer Paatkala, he started shouting at me.

“Then, the officer asked him (Kharbat) to undertake a frisk search after removing my pants till the thigh. But he did not follow orders and continuously asked me to remove my clothes in front of everyone (sic.),” reads a part of the five-page letter to Bhushan Upadhyay, additional director general (ADG) of prisons, Maharashtra.

“I have asked the inspector general of Mumbai area to visit and submit a report as soon as possible,” said Upadhyay.

Shaikh only identifies the two officers as Kharbat and Patkala.

Akhtar is being tried in the case of triple blasts in Opera House, Zaveri Bazar and Dadar bomb blasts on July 13, 2011.

Akhtar has also approached a local Navi Mumbai court and has asked for the CCTV footage to be recovered.