Mumbai, Jul 25 (IANS): The Bombay High Court has slammed the investigation into the death of Byculla jail inmate Manjula Shetye last month, even going to the extent of saying that there were attempts to mislead the court and shield some people. It also mentioned glaring contradictions in the death information card and the post-mortem report of Shetye, who died in prison on June 23.

A division bench of Justices RM Savant and Sadhana Jadhav also observed that the Crime Branch was "leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it was seen as an accidental death". It also noted that while they were recording statements of inmates, they were yet to record the statement of the doctor who initially certified that there were no external injuries on Shetye.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Malad resident Pradeep Bhalekar, a former inmate of Pune's Yerawada prison, seeking transfer of investigation to the State's Central Investigation Department (CID) and addition of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to the charges against the jail officials arrested in the case.

On Monday, the court was handed over two affidavits, one by Senior Inspector of the Nagpada Police station, where the case was originally registered, and the other by Jailor Tanaji Gharbudave who was incharge Superintendent of the prison on the day Shetye died. In addition to these, the court also went through the records of investigation carried out by the Crime Branch.

The contradiction between the inquest panchnama - which is the first inspection of a body - and the post mortem report infuriated the court. While the inquest panchnama prepared by a Tehsildar and a Death Information Card issued by doctor of the JJ Hospital both clearly mentioning "no obvious external injury noted." The post mortem, however, conducted the very next day, recorded various external injuries.

"All these are your own people. The constables in jail were fully aware. Look at the audacity of placing this document on record," the bench told Additional Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh, who was representing the investigating agency.

The court also observed, "The way it is being investigated means that you are shielding someone and giving this justification that we will take time."

NCP MP raises jail death issue in RS

In a 3-minute speech in the Rajya Sabha , NCP member Vandana Chavan drew the attention of the House to Shetye's death in prison. Her call for jail reform and the setting up of a committee to push for human rights of inmates struck a chord among RS members across parties. Her demand was supported by several Opposition leaders from across political parties such as Anand Shama and Ambika Soni of the Congress, Jaya Bachchan and Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Satish Mishra of the BSP.