Inmate murder: Indrani Mukerjea tells court jail staff threatened to kill her

Jailed former media entrepreneur Indrani Mukerjea told a court on Wednesday that the Byculla jail staff had threatened her with the same fate as that of an inmate whose murder on Friday triggered a prison riot if she deposed against them.

Manjula Shetye, 38, was allegedly beaten up by jail officials after she complained about food items missing from the morning ration. Shetye’s death triggered a violent protest, and Mukerjea was booked for inciting the riot.

Mukerjea said the superintendent told her ‘tu witness banne ja rahi hai.... tereko bhi dekh lenge’.

Mukerjea, accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, told the court she was in barrack number 2 and saw Shetye being dragged by a dupatta that was tied around her neck to barrack number 5.

She said she heard Shetye was assaulted by the jail staff and a lathi was inserted in her private parts. “After this I contacted my advocate and demanded that an FIR be filed,” Mukerjea told the court.

The court then allowed Mukerjea to file the FIR against the jail staff with Nagpada police station.

Mukerjea claimed she was constantly being threatened and wanted to record her statement before a magistrate and wanted to file a FIR with the Nagpada police.

“I was hit on the hand and legs... I can barely walk,” she said.

She also told the court of the injuries she received when the jail staff beat her up along with other inmates when they were protesting against Shetye’s death.

“The jail SP ordered a lathi charge and the male staff also assaulted us. I was beaten on the hand and leg with lathis,” said Mukerjea.

(With PTI inputs)