Assaulted by jail staff: Indrani

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 28

Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, who is accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, today told the CBI court that she was assaulted by officials at the Byculla prison after she agreed to testify as a witness in connection with the death of another inmate earlier this week.

“I was hit on the hand and legs… I can barely walk,” Indrani told the court. She went on to allege that the Jail Superintendent warned her against becoming a witness in the case. Indrani said she was warned of a fate similar to Manju Govind Shetye, the inmate who was tortured and a lathi shoved into her private parts that resulted in her death.

Indrani added Jail Superintendent Manisha Pokharkar had ordered the constables to switch off lights in the prison and carry out a lathicharge on the inmates after they protested the death of Shetye. The women had assembled on the terrace of the Byculla women’s jail and burnt newspapers and raised slogans against the prison authorities.

Indrani was produced in a special CBI court that sent her for a physical check-up to the JJ Hospital. The court also allowed her to file a first information report (FIR) against prison officials in connection with the death of Shetye. The Maharashtra Government has ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department into the death of the jail inmate.