Manju Shetye case: Bail pleas of 3 rejected

Mumbai: A special women’s court on Tuesday rejected bail applications filed by three jail staff in connection with the custodial death of Byculla jail inmate, Manju Shetye.

Special judge Shayana Patil said, “Bail applications of accused Vasima Shaikh, Surekha Gulve and Bindu Naykode have been rejected.” Later, Ms Patil posted the matter for further court proceedings on December 12.

All accused contended that Shetye died of tuberculosis and it was a natural death. Their lawyer contended that the marks and patches on Ms Shetye’s body were postmortem lividity and not related to assault. It was argued that the FIR was registered due to pressure and agitation by Byculla jail inmates and applicants had been falsely implicated in the case.

However, public prosecutor Vidya Kasle opposed the bail applications on grounds that what the applicants were terming as post-mortem lividity was the result of assault and the autopsy report had clearly mentioned that there were more than 14 injuries on Shetye’s body which both collectively and individually were sufficient to cause her death. The prosecution also argued that the deceased was in the accused’s custody and it was their duty to protect her but instead, they beat her up so brutally that she died and hence, this was not a case where bail should be granted.

While all six arrested accused applied for bail, during hearing, Manisha Pokharkar, Sheetal Shegaonkar and Aarti Shinghane withdrew their bail pleas.

Shetye was allegedly beaten to death in Byculla jail on June 23 and initially, a case of accidental death was registered but later, acting on the complaint of a jail inmate, a FIR was lodged against jail staff and six female jail authorities were arrested.