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MUMBAI: Bombay high court has sought the State’s response on a petition by the mother of a convict (32), who allegedly died by suicide in September in Pune’s Yerwada jail, for a court-monitored inquiry into his death. Jitendra alias Pappu Shinde was among three Dalit youth who were sentenced for the July 2016 gang-rape and murder of a 15 year old Maratha girl in Kopardi in Ahmednagar district.
“A responsible officer of Yerwada Central Prison to remain present on the next date with the documents (magisterial inquiry report and the medical case papers) – as sought for,” directed Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Manjusha Deshpande on January 22. Lata Shinde (51) moved HC saying prior to his suicide and during incarceration her son was suffering from serious mental health issues but no care was taken of him by the prison authorities. She has sought direction to the State to pay her adequate compensation.
On November 18, 2017 Shinde was convicted and sentenced to death. In October 2019 the confirmation reference was transferred from Aurangabad bench to the principal bench in Mumbai where it is pending alongwith his appeal. His mother’s petition said between 2020-22 Shinde was diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depression. In November 2022 he wrote to his lawyers that his mind is affected and he cannot sleep. In December2022 during a physical meeting he told them he had gone “mad” for a week and did not remember much from that period. In August 2023 the prison authorities informed them that Shinde had stopped eating. On September 10, his family received a call that he had died by suicide by hanging himself with a strip torn from his towel. An accidental death report was registered and the spot and inquest panchnama were sent to the magistrate to conduct an inquiry. On September 11 his lawyer was told by jail inmates that some 10-15 days earlier he had attempted to end his life in a similar manner. The petition said neither the family nor lawyers were informed of it and Shinde “was also not transferred to a mental health establishment for proper care.” He was confined in a separate cell. His lawyers were unable to get his complete health records.
Advocate Vijay Hiremath, for the mother, argued that as far as incarcerated prisoners are concerned, the State, through the prison administration is obliged to act as parens patriae (as a protector) and provide treatment for such mentally ill persons. Posting the hearing on February 5, the judges said all medical treatment papers must be given to Hiremath.
“A responsible officer of Yerwada Central Prison to remain present on the next date with the documents (magisterial inquiry report and the medical case papers) – as sought for,” directed Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Manjusha Deshpande on January 22. Lata Shinde (51) moved HC saying prior to his suicide and during incarceration her son was suffering from serious mental health issues but no care was taken of him by the prison authorities. She has sought direction to the State to pay her adequate compensation.
On November 18, 2017 Shinde was convicted and sentenced to death. In October 2019 the confirmation reference was transferred from Aurangabad bench to the principal bench in Mumbai where it is pending alongwith his appeal. His mother’s petition said between 2020-22 Shinde was diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depression. In November 2022 he wrote to his lawyers that his mind is affected and he cannot sleep. In December2022 during a physical meeting he told them he had gone “mad” for a week and did not remember much from that period. In August 2023 the prison authorities informed them that Shinde had stopped eating. On September 10, his family received a call that he had died by suicide by hanging himself with a strip torn from his towel. An accidental death report was registered and the spot and inquest panchnama were sent to the magistrate to conduct an inquiry. On September 11 his lawyer was told by jail inmates that some 10-15 days earlier he had attempted to end his life in a similar manner. The petition said neither the family nor lawyers were informed of it and Shinde “was also not transferred to a mental health establishment for proper care.” He was confined in a separate cell. His lawyers were unable to get his complete health records.
Advocate Vijay Hiremath, for the mother, argued that as far as incarcerated prisoners are concerned, the State, through the prison administration is obliged to act as parens patriae (as a protector) and provide treatment for such mentally ill persons. Posting the hearing on February 5, the judges said all medical treatment papers must be given to Hiremath.
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