Byculla jail death: Accused staffers seek CCTV footage of prison

Bagade said since the FIR of murder was registered after the protest, the genesis of the case lied in what had happened on that day. (Representational Image)

THE SIX staff members of Byculla women’s jail arrested for the alleged murder of convict Manjula Shetye have sought CCTV footage of the prison while arguing for bail.  Advocate Vaibhav Bagade, representing the six accused, Manisha Pokharkar, Sheetal Shegaonkar, Aarti Shinghane, Bindu Naikode, Surekha Kakad and Vasima Shaikh, submitted before the court that so far, they have been given only one photograph from inside the jail where the alleged incident took place on June 23. Bagade said the photograph was not giving the entire picture of what happened on the day of the incident and the consequent day.

On June 24, inmates of the prison had protested seeking action against the jail staffers, who had allegedly assaulted Shetye, after they came to know that Shetye had passed away. Bagade said since the FIR of murder was registered after the protest, the genesis of the case lied in what had happened on that day.

“The accused should be given access to the chargesheet without which we cannot go ahead arguing for bail. Only one photograph will not give the entire picture as other documents suggest that the presence of the accused was in different places and different duties in prison,” Bagade argued. He also said that the public servants were being “victimised” because of media pressure.

The court said as it did not have the powers to direct the investigators to provide CCTV footage, the defence could file an application before the magistrate’s court. The court has also directed the Mumbai Police to file a reply. Last week, the Mumbai Police had filed a chargesheet against the six staffers on charges, including murder, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and destruction of evidence. The accused are currently lodged in Thane women’s prison.