Charges against prison staff too light: Indrani

STATEMENTS RECORDED The murder accused told the court that assault was not a‘ non-cognizable’ offence

Indrani Mukherjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case,on Tuesday informed a special court that the Nagpada police has registered only a Non Cognisable (NC) complaint in the Byculla jail assault case. This comes after the court had directed the police officials to record Indrani’s statements and act in accordance with the law.

The special court designated to hear cases under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was informed by advocate Gunjan Mangla who represents Indrani. The advocate told the court that despite the fact that her client has sustained several injuries and that several inmates have come forward to depose against the jail authorities, the police officers have only registered a NC.

The advocate sought directions to the police officials to register a FIR and also hand over Indrani’s medical reports. However, the court refused to issue any such direction saying that it ‘cannot exceed its jurisdiction.’

It may be recalled that Indrani had last week moved an application before the special court wherein she had highlighted the injuries she sustained during the assault on women inmates lodged in the Byculla jail. The court had then directed the government-run Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy (JJ) Hospital to examine her injuries and file a report of the same.

Meanwhile, the court was

also informed that Indrani has given her written statements to the Nagpada police and the Crime Branch, that are investigating the case.

In her six-page statement copy, Indrani has once again reiterated that the jail superintendent had ordered male guards of the jail to assault all women prisoners after switching off the lights. She has also said that the brutal assault and then death of convict Manjula Shetye, has ‘traumatised’ the inmates lodged in the jail.