Byculla inmate death: Six jail staff file discharge application

Mumbai: Six women jail staffers, who were arrested in connection custodial death of a Byculla jail inmate Manjula Shetye, filed their discharge applications on Monday before the trial court. 

“Yes, the accused have filed the discharge application, and I will give my reply in oral arguments on next date of hearing,” said special public prosecutor Vidhya Kasle. According to her, the accused have filed discharge application on the grounds of sanction.

The accused have contended that sanction has been filed after the chargesheet and therefore cognisance has been taken without sanction hence it is invalid. The accused claimed that hence they could not be prosecuted in this case.

Shetye was allegedly beaten to death on June 23 last year at Byculla jail, and initially, a case of accidental death was registered but later on the complaint of a jail inmate, an FIR was lodged against jail staff and six women jail authorities were arrested.

Earlier, three accused had withdrawn the bail applications and the court had rejected bail pleas of other three accused.