Shetye case: Defence seeks to visit Byculla jail

Mumbai: The defence lawyers in the Manjula Shetye (45) custodial death case want to visit Byculla jail before cross-examining the first witness in the case. The trial against six staffers of Byculla jail accused of killing inmate Shetye in a barrack commenced Thursday, with the prosecution examining the first witness.

Special public prosecutor Vidya Kasle called as first witness a man who had designed the map of Byculla jail. During his testimony, several photographs of Byculla jail were shown to him and he explained the topography of the jail to the trial court.

The prosecution case is that the accused jail staff beat Shetye at different spots within the jail and she could be seen being escorted by the accused and other inmates in the CCTV footage of the jail premises. Since different witnesses were expected to speak about various spots inside the jail, the prosecution chose to call this person as the first witness to put forth the jail design.

When the prosecution completed examining the witness, the defence lawyers requested the court to direct the jail authorities to allow them visit the jail because they wanted to see the jail premises before cross-examining this witness. However, additional sessions Judge Shayana Patil told them that she did not have the authority to decide this application and that they should seek permission from the jail superintendent. Upon the defence’s request, the Judge deferred cross-examination of the witness till November 28.

The prosecution’s case is that Shetye, who was a warden at the Byculla jail and undergoing life imprisonment in a murder case, died in June due to an alleged assault by jail staffers because she complained about the shortage of boiled eggs to be distributed among the inmates.