In a new development in the case involving the murder of a convict in the Byculla women’s jail, Maharashtra’s deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Swati Sathe has withdrawn herself from the investigations in the case, after a WhatsApp message sent by her, sympathising with the arrested jail staffers went viral on social media.
A senior prison official, Sathe had come to be included in a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) to investigate the recent murder of convict Manjula Shetye allegedly by the jail officials at the Byculla women prison.
In a letter addressed to Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Dr BK Upadhaya, she said she would like to step aside in the wake of various media reports about her.
“There has been a lot of speculation in the media, about my involvement in the inquiry. Under these circumstances I do not think it would be right on my part to continue to head this enquiry. I request you to relieve me of this responsibility at the earliest,” she stated in her letter. Sathe had earlier on June 29 submitted a report to Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) Vijaya Rahatkar
Sathe’s decision to withdraw from the MSCW-appointed SIT comes in the wake of a whatsapp message she wrote recently. Among other things, Sathe stated in her whatsapp message, “All our 6 colleage sister(s) arrested today evening. PC till 7th July...feeling sad and upset”. This message has gone viral in the social media.
It may be recalled that 290-odd women prisoners – including the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case Indrani Mukherjea – had on Saturday morning climbed up the terrace of the two-storey jail building and staged a protest against the inmate Manjula’s alleged murder. The protesters set books, newspapers and clothes on fire and shouted slogans against the prison officials. They also reportedly clashed with the jail staffers who tried to quell the rioters.
The Nagpada police booked 291 prison inmates, including Indrani, for allegedly indulging in a riot and assaulting the jail staff on Sunday.
Meanwhile, six women jail staffers --- Manisha Pokharkar, jailor, Bindu Naikode, Waseema Shaikh, Sheetal Shegaokar, Surekha Gudve and Aarti Shingane, are currently under suspension, pending a full-fledged inquiry into their alleged role in the murder of inmate Manjula.