Byculla incident done at jail super Indurkar’s instance: NCP leader

‘Slap outraging modesty of women charge on jail officials’

Nearly a week after the brutal assault and then death of convict Manjula Shetye, the Crime Branch on Monday finally began recording the statements of inmates, who claim to have witnessed the horrific incident. The very first witness, who got his statements recorded in the case is Ramesh Kadam the NCP leader, who is also lodged in the Byculla jail.

This comes a day after Kadam’s advocate Nitin Satpute submitted an application to the Crime Branch officials. Satpute had requested the officials to record the statements of Kadam, his cousin Vaishali Madhle and her former employee Harshada Bendre. The trio are lodged in the Byculla prison for the roles in the Annabhau Sathe Mahamandal Scam.

Advocate Satpute confirmed the news saying that Kadam was quizzed for more than two hours by the Crime Branch officials.

Satpute said, “My client has informed the cops how the accused, Manisha Pokharkar, had called Shetye in a room to enquire about shortage of ration. He has also informed the officials that all the six lady guards had started assaulting her brutally and also that they had inserted a lathi in Shetye’s private parts.”

Kadam has also made several allegations against jail Superintendent Chandramani Indurkar for harassing the inmates and threatening them not to depose against the six accused.

“In his statements, Kadam has also highlighted the fact that this incident was done at the instance of Indurkar and that he is the main culprit in both the matters (murder of Shetye and rioting). My client has also apprised the police that Indurkar has been threatening all inmates not to depose against the six accused,” advocate Satpute said.

Apart from his narration before the officers regarding the incident, Kadam has also sought registration of an FIR against Indurkar and other male guards of the Byculla jail. He has urged the officers to register the FIR under charges of “outraging modesty of women”.

“My client has informed the police that Indurkar had asked male guards to switch off the lights and assault all the inmates after Shetye’s death. For this act of the jail authorities, Kadam has sought registration of FIR for outraging the modesty of women prisoners as they were manhandled,” Satpute added.

Going by advocate Satpute, his client has also sought inclusion of Dr. Sayed Khan, the in-house doctor of Byculla jail for “fabricating” Shetye’s medical reports. He said, “The autopsy reports were prepared after relying on the medical reports. Dr. Khan had forged the document and had not mentioned the injuries on Shetye’s private parts so as to help his colleagues.”