Activist claims JJ Hospital autopsy report of Shetye was manipulated to save jail cops

In a new twist to the Manjula Shetye death case, an activist has alleged that the Byculla jail inmate’s autopsy report was manipulated to hide the fact that she was also sexually assaulted. This was done, social activist Pradeep Bhalekar, alleged to save the prison staff who have been arrested.

In his letter to the Crime Branch, that is now probing the Shetye case, Bhalekar has demanded the arrest of DIG (Prisons) Swati Sathe, who has now been removed from the probe team, Byculla jail superintendent Chandramani Indurkar and the Dean of JJ Hospital, Dr Tatyarao Lahane.

Bhalekar has also demanded that these top officials be put through brain-mapping, narco-analysis and lie-detector tests. Copies of the letter have also been sent to the chief minister and home minister. “Shetye was killed because she was about to reveal the illegal activities inside Byculla jail,” the letters says.

Bhalekar has also alleged that Swati Sathe and her colleagues destroyed the stick (lathi) that was inserted into Shetye’s private parts. “They tampered with the evidence,” the letter says.

Bhalekar alleges that during Shetye’s autopsy, Dr Lahane and Sathe were constantly in touch over phone. “They made several calls to each other during that particular period,” Bhalekar wrote.

Dr Lahane stoutly refuted the allegations. “I never prepare autopsy reports, it’s the Forensic Department that does so. Also there has been no phone call from any jail official to me. It is better not to take these allegations seriously as these activists have no other work.”