Shetye murder: Swati Sathe to face departmental investigation

The DIG was trying to gain support for the six accused PROTECTING THE DEPENDANTS

A fresh probe has been ordered by Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, Additional Director General (Prisons) into the murder of Manjula Shetye in the Byculla jail. An internal departmental inquiry will also be conducted against the Deputy Inspector General Swati Sathe for allegedly trying to gain support for the six arrested jail accused in the murder of Shetye and the WhatsApp fiasco.

According to Upadhyay, “A fresh probe will be initiated in Manjula Shetye’s death. An inquiry is being conducted regarding the WhatsApp messages sent by Swati Sathe on the Maharashtra karagruh group on WhatsApp.”

As per the message circulated by Sathe on July 2, “All our 6 colleague sisters have been arrested today evening. Their police custody is uptil July 7. Hope the media is at peace now. Feeling sad and upset. Dhamne Sir (Rajendra Dhamne DIG Prisons), Desai Sir (Yogesh Desai (DIG)(Prisons) and all the jail officials should support them. Please help all. So many people on the group have read my message. At least say a yes. I am requesting everyone with folded hands.”

Meanwhile, the state government has sought a report from Upadhyay in the WhatsApp fiasco.

Vijaya Rahatkar, the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women confirmed, “We will not be considering the detailed report which was earlier submitted by Sathe.”

Sathe was summoned to the State Women’s Commission office on June 30, at Bandra, to discuss about the incident and the action that needed to be taken by the prison authorities. She had submitted a detailed report to Rahatkar at that time.

Meanwhile, the Commission has sought a detailed report on the living conditions, safety and security, the problems of the jail inmates and the steps and initiatives taken across all jails in Maharashtra.

Dhananjay Munde, the member of Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) had written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday to suspend Swati Sathe in the murder of Manjula Shetye and for sending messages on a WhatsApp seeking support for the accused jail officials; jailor Manisha Pokharkar and the five jail guards Bindu Naikode, Waseema Shaikh, Sheetal Shegaonkar, Surekha Gulve and Aarti Shingne.