Mumbai crime branch to probe death of woman convict in Byculla jail

The Commissioner of Mumbai Police has issued an order, as per which the crime branch will investigate the death of convict Manjula Shetye, the official said.

The police had earlier suspended six jail staffers and booked them on the charge of murder.

Manjula (45) died at the government-run J J Hospital on Friday night after allegedly being beaten up by a woman official of the jail on June 23.

The Byculla jail, located in the heart of the city, houses around 251 inmates.

The police had earlier said Manjula, whose death triggered protests in the prison, was allegedly tortured and a stick was inserted in her private parts.

"These allegations are part of an FIR filed against the jail staff. We are probing the matter," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-3), Akhilesh Singh had said.

Following Manju's death, the enraged inmates rose in protest on Saturday, some of them went to the prison's terrace, while others made a bonfire of newspapers and documents inside the premises to express their anger.

Later, the Nagpada police booked nearly 200 inmates of the Byculla jail, including Sheena Bora murder case accused Indrani Mukerjea, who is lodged in the same prison, for rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on a public servant and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Indrani yesterday moved a Mumbai court alleging that she was beaten up by the jail officials after the convict's death triggered a protest in the prison.