MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of acting jail superintendent Gharboodve and jail superintendent Indulkar in the case of custodial death of Manjula Shetye and also said that role of DIG (Prisons) in the entire case too shall be probed.
Shetye's death at the Byculla jail on June 24, sparked off a heated debate in the Legislative Council with the opposition Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena alleging that attempts were being made to shield someone high and mighty in the government. They also demanded a judicial probe in what they termed as “murder” of Shetye.
Replying to the debate, minister of state for home (urban) Dr Ranjit Patil announced the suspension of Gharboodve and Indulkar and also announced that special inspector general (IG) Jadhav shall investigate the charge of DIG Swati Sathe sending WhatsApp messages enlisting financial and legal support to the arrested six accused jail staffers.
Patil said probe against Sathe would deal whether she should be made a co-accused in the case. With the WhatsApp messages she had sent to her colleagues and call data records as evidences, the probe would be under the provisions of the Cyber Crime laws, Patil added.
The probe against Sathe would be conducted within a week, he assured the house.
The debate was raised over a Calling Attention Notice that was withheld last week over charges of unsatisfactory replies.
Replying to the debate today, Patil said that the statements of all the eyewitness women inmates will be recorded in camera.