Indrani Mukerjea is among 200 women accused of instigating a riot after a woman prisoner died
Highlights
- Indrani Mukerjea in jail since 2015 for allegedly murdering daughter
- She was part of riot at Mumbai jail on Saturday after a prisoner died
- The victim was allegedly sexually assaulted, killed by jail officials
Former media entrepreneur Indrani Mukerjea, who is in jail in Mumbai on charges of murdering her daughter, says that she has crucial information about how an inmate at the same prison, Manjula Shetye, was killed last week, allegedly by a jail official. She has also alleged that she was attacked by prison officers, has bruises to prove it, and that they threatened her with sexual assault to prevent her from disclosing what she knew.
Ms Mukerjea, 44, has informed a Mumbai court that she would like to testify about the inmate's death. She says the woman was tortured by a lathi or stick being inserted in her private parts. The FIR or police complaint, filed by the victim's cell-mate, also refers to the sexual assault by a woman jail officer.
A case of murder has been filed against her and she is among six jail officials who have been suspended in connection with the inmate's death.
Ms Mukerjea's version of events was shared in court today by her lawyer, Gunjan Mangala. She has been asked to appear tomorrow before the judge.
Ms Mukerjea has been accused by jail officials of inciting and participating in a riot on Saturday, which saw women prisoners rushing to the rooftop of the jail while others set newspapers on fire in anger against the custodial death.
Ms Mukerjea has been in the Byculla prison since September 2015 after her arrest on August 25 on charges of murdering her daughter, Sheena Bora. Her husband, Peter Mukerjea, was arrested three months after her. The couple owned a TV network that they sold in 2009.
Ms Mukerjea publicly introduced her daughter as a sister. Points of friction between them included Ms Bora's engagement to Rahul Mukerjea, who is Peter Mukerjea's son from an earlier marriage.
Ms Bora's body was found in a forest on the fringes of Mumbai in Raigad. By that time, she had been dead for three years. Ms Mukerjea's driver, arrested for another case, informed the police of Ms Bora's murder.