Cops to question Indrani Mukerjea over Mumbai prison riot

A day after former media bigwig Indrani Mukerjea, who is in Mumbai’s Byculla jail accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora, and some 200 other prisoners staged protests after an inmate was allegedly beaten to death, the police plan to question her to determine her role in the near riot.

In fact, the police have booked her and scores of other prisoners for rioting but she will be interrogated following reports that she may have instigated the prisoners to stage a violent protest.

Based on post-mortem reports from JJ Hospital, police booked six jail officials for the death of Manjula Shetye, 45, convicted for the murder of her sister-in-law.

They also registered a cross complaint against 200 inmates, including Mukerjea, for rioting, assault and mischief.

“We registered a case against the inmates after they created a ruckus in jail. Investigations are ongoing. We will record the statements of all the accused, including Indrani Mukerjea,” said an officer from Nagpada police station.

On Friday, Shetye was allegedly assaulted by a woman jailer. Complaining of chest pain, she was taken to JJ Hospital, where she was later declared dead. “The post-mortem reports revealed that the woman’s lungs were damaged. There were 11 to 13 contusions all over her body, which surfaced after she was beaten with a blunt object,” said an officer.

After news of Shetye’s death reached the inmates, they started destroying property in protest. Some of them climbed the roof and threw objects on officials. One of the officials suffered head injuries in the scuffle.