Complaint filed against Swati Sathe

Mumbai: A day after DIG (prisons) Swati Sathe quit from the Byculla jail’s internal investigation into the murder of inmate Manju Shetye (45), a written complaint has now been submitted, seeking criminal action against her. Last week, allegations had surfaced that she had exhorted fellow jail officials on a WhatsApp group to support six arrested prison staffers.

The complaint was submitted on Saturday to the Mumbai police commissioner, Mumbai crime branch and Nagpada police station by Hiralal Jadhav, a former superintendent of Thane prison, who is currently placed under suspension.

The copy of Jadhav’s application with The Asian Age stated, “Sathe sent the messages and also sought money to save prison officials and staffers. The details of messages exchanged on the prison’s WhatsApp group between June 23 and July 7 should be accessed.” “Her role since the day one of heading the internal probe has been suspicious, and a case under various sections (for tampering with evidence, having biased approach towards accused, collection of monetary contribution for them, etc) of the Indian Penal Code should be registered against Sathe based on my complaint,” stated the application.

Jadhav had earlier submitted a written complaint to the state chief minister, principle secretary and additional director general (prisons) B.K. Upadhyay along with a copy of Ms Sathe’s text messages. Ms Sathe had allegedly posted the messages on the jail’s internal WhatsApp group named Maharashtra Prison, following the arrest of Byculla jail staffers Manisha Pokharkar, Bindu Naikade, Waseema Shaikh, Sheetal Shegaonkar, Surekha Gulve and Aarti Shigane.

Ms Sathe’s messages said: “Feeling sad and upset. All our six colleague sisters have been arrested today in the evening. They will be in police custody till July 7. Will this at least pacify the media?” Ms Sathe added, “Dhamne Sir, Desai Sir, all the prison officials and personnel should stand with our sisters.”

Who is Hiralal Jadhav

The superintendent of Thane central prison, Hiralal Jadhav, was suspended in September 2016 following allegations of sexual harassment by a woman constable, who claimed he molested her. An inquiry was ordered against Jadhav, and it was headed by Swati Sathe. Jadhav was also being probed for corruption by Ms Sathe. The allegations of corruption were levelled against Jadhav before the alleged harassment charges came to the fore. Jadhav moved for an anticipatory bail in the case and was granted relief by the court.

CASE TIMELINE

• Six jail staffers assaulted Manju Shetye after she raised questions over food stock in the jail on June 23
• The jail staff kicked, punched and assaulted Shetye with baton, which was allegedly also inserted in her private parts
• Shetye was taken to hospital at 7 pm, where the doctors declared her dead on arrival
• On June 24, inmates along with Indrani Mukherjea protested against Shetye’s death on prison’s terrace.
• Police registered a murder case against six prison personnel and a rioting case against the jail inmates.