Shetye murder: Inmate identifies accused

Mumbai: One of the inmates of Byculla prison on Wednesday identified the six accused jail staffers, including the then jailor Manisha Pokharkar, in court, as the persons who allegedly assaulted another life convict Manjula Shetye, leading to her death.

Special public prosecutor, Vidya Kasle, Wednesday examined the Byculla prison inmate, Bhagyashree Mandavkar, as a witness. Ms Mandavkar stood by her statement and reiterated it before the trial court Judge Shayana Patil.

She identified all the accused - Pokharkar, Bindu Naikode, Wasima Shaikh, Shital Shegokar, Surekha Gavle and Arti Shingne - as the persons who allegedly assaulted Shetye.

A life convict, 45-year-old Shetye, was rushed to hospital from the Byculla women’s prison on June 23 where she was declared dead. The jail staff claimed that Shetye fell down and died due to poor health as she was suffering from TB.

However, as soon as news of Shetye’s death reached the jail, all other inmates got furious and created a riot-like situation there. One of the inmates lodged a complaint against the jail staff for allegedly beating Shetye to death, following which, the six persons were arrested in the case.

Ms Mandavkar told the court that on the date of the incident when she was having food with another inmate, she saw Shingne dragging Shetye by her hair. According to Ms Mandavkar, Shingne pushed Shetye in the barrack where the convict was imprisoned and then, Pokharkar, Naikode, Shegokar and Gavle also came and started assaulting Shetye with lathis.