DIG denies she covered up death of jail inmate

Mumbai: Deputy Inspector of General (prisons) Swati Sathe has strongly denied allegations made against her by Byculla women’s jail inmate Mariam Shaikh of tampering with evidence — a wooden stick that was used to beat Manju Shetye, another inmate, which led to the latter’s death on June 23. 

Sathe also denied all allegations levelled against her by Shaikh but said she was willing to cooperate in the investigation. Meanwhile, dean of JJ Hospital Dr T.P. Lahane and jailer Chandramani Indulkar have sought time to file their replies. An application by Shaikh had sought a narco analysis and lie detector test on the Mumbai police commissioner, Sathe, Dr Lahane, Indulkar and two others alleging, that they were trying to cover up the death of Shetye.

Shaikh had filed an application in the additional chief metropolitan magistrate’s court through advocate Nitin Satpute alleging that there was a concerted effort by the officials to hush up Shetye’s death and save the accused. Hence to prove their role in the incident, they should be put through a narco analysis and lie detector test. Sathe’s reply on Tuesday was in response to the court directing them to file replies.

The three-page reply filed by Sathe said that there was mala fide intention by vested interests in seeking such tests. She denied her role in the death of Shetye and said that her conversation with Dr Lahane and the jailer were being misconstrued. 

Shetye had been allegedly beaten up by the jailer and staff of Byculla jail over the issue of distribution of egg and bread for breakfast. She had been assaulted and left without medical help, which led to her death on August 23.