Two cops suspended in Manju Shetye’s murder case

Mumbai: Maharashtra Home minister for state Ranjit Patil announced the suspension of Byculla women’s jail superintendent Chandramani Indalkar and Tanaji Gharbudve, who was the acting superintendent at the time when inmate Manju Shetye was allegedly murdered on June 23 by six other jail officials.

Mr Patil made the announcement in the legislative council on Tuesday. It was in response to the motion raised by Opposition leader Dhananjay Munde and others. He said that the government is also probing the alleged assistance extended to the accused police officers in the case by DIG (Prison) Swati Sathe.

“We have the detailed WhatsApp conversation between Swati Sathe and other officers asking to join hands in helping police officers who are accused of murdering Manju Shetye. How could an officer who was the investigating officer in the case make such an appeal? The officer should be suspended,” said Mr Munde.

By announcing the suspension of the two officers, Mr Patil assured the house that all the allegations levelled against Ms Sathe would be probed and if she is found to be guilty, she will be not be spared.

Mr Munde reiterated his experiences of visiting the Byculla jail along with a delegation of MLCs. “The prison conditions are too bad to even be described. The women inmates were scared to even speak in front of the officers that came with us. They only spoke after the officers were asked to leave us alone,” said Mr Munde, adding that the convict and under trials in the jail are undergoing inhuman treatment, including sexual harassment. Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe, referring to Ms Sathe said that if an officer can dare to seek help for officers so openly, it is possible that she might have helped the officers in the past as well.

Mr Patil said that measures would be taken to improve the jail conditions. “The investigators have recorded the main complainant’s statement and if found necessary we can recall her for the same,” he said.