The Esplanade Court on Friday remanded in judicial custody six jail officials accused of the custodial death of Manjula Shette in Byculla women’s prison on June 23.
The Crime Branch arrested Bindu Naikode on July 1 and Manisha Pokharkar, Wazima Sheikh, Sheetal Shegavkar, Surekha Gulwe and Aarti Shingne on July 2. Public Prosecutor Rajendra Suryavanshi informed the court that the sticks allegedly used to assault Shette have not yet been recovered. He sought two more days of police custody for the accused.
The Crime Branch also has secured footage of the camera placed outside the barrack where Shette was allegedly assaulted and dragged by the officials. Shette is alleged to have been brutally assaulted in her barrack, after which she was allegedly stripped and beaten using a baton. Post-mortem reports have confirmed multiple injuries on her body. A detailed post-mortem report is awaited.
Her death on June 23 sparked a riot in the prison, and the 200-odd inmates, including Indrani Mukerjea, accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, destroyed prison property in the rampage that lasted till the next afternoon. While six guards have been booked for murder under the IPC, the police have registered a separate FIR against the inmates for rioting.
