Inmate death case: Swati Sathe says Byculla jail wasn’t under her control

DIG PRISON DEPOSES Allegations are baseless as she has no locus standi in case, adds she doesn't know Dr Lahane

In a bid to defend herself, Swati Sathe, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Prisons, on Tuesday made a personal appearance before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and refuted all the allegations levelled against her for conspiring to kill Byculla jail women inmate – Manjula Shetye.

Apart from Sathe, other top officials like - Dr. TP Lahane, Dean of JJ hospital and also Jail Superintendent Chandramani Indurkar appeared personally before the magistrate. The trio appeared before the magistrate in pursuance to the notices served to them to show cause why they must not be made to undergo narco test and brain mapping tests.

Mariam Shaikh, the inmate of Byculla prison had moved a plea before the Magistrate in July urging the court to issue directions to these officials to undergo brain mapping and other tests. She had sought such tests as she claimed that Shetye was murdered at the behest of Sathe and Indurkar.

In her plea, Mariam had also claimed that several malpractices are carried inside the jail premises at the behest of Sathe. She had also sought slapping of rape charge and also the charge of outraging women’s modesty against Indurkar for allegedly exploiting women inmates in the prison.

However, Sathe trashed all the allegations of Mariam, in her three-page reply.

Sathe has said, “The allegations against me are baseless and needs the plea needs to be dismissed forthwith especially in the light that I have no locus standi in this case since Byculla jail does not fall under my jurisdication.”

Sathe has refuted all the allegations of fabricating evidence especially the material related to the offence of “unnatural sex”. She has said, “I vehemently deny that I have destroyed any evidence especially the lathi (wooden stick) as alleged. I also deny that I have tampered and fabricated evidence pertaining to unnatural sex offence. I say that the Mumbai Police has been conducting a thorough and independent inquiry in this case .”

Interestingly, Sathe who claims to have “no jurisdiction” over the Byculla prisons, has clarified that no illegal activities ever took place inside the jail premises. Her reply states, “I vehemently deny that any illegal activities were being carried inside the jail premises. I also deny that the malpractices were being conducted at my instigation.”

Sathe’s response also clarifies that she has no contact with Dr Lahane and neither does she have his contact number. This comes in response to the allegations that Sathe along with Lahane fabricated Shetye’s autopsy reports.

Sathe has also opposed the “media trial” of Shetye murder case. She said, “I was shocked and totally dismayed after hearing about this incident. The entire prisons staff was upset with the ongoing media trial in this case. It was only after this, I assured my colleagues about a fair and independent probe into this matter and only to seek their support, I had posted the messages in our informal Whatsapp group.”

Sathe has also clarified that she never prepared any report which was allegedly submitted to the State Women’s Commission.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lahane and Indurkar sought time to file their replies.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 20.