Post City Police search, spl prison team finds cellphone in jail’s high security cell
| Date :09-Sep-2022 |
Special Correspondent
A SPECIAL team dispatched by Additional Director General (Prisons) to Central Jail here to inquire into the futile attempt made by a MCOCA detenue to smuggle packets containing 51 gramme marijuana and 15 batteries of different handsets inside the prison on Thursday conducted searches at ‘Anda Cell,’ and ‘Fasi Yard’. The searches yielded shocking results as the team found a cellphone, a SIM card and three batteries in the high security area.
During the searches, the team stumbled upon a Kechaoda Rose Gold handset (IMEI No. 8668828057957497 and 866828057957505), an Airtel SIM (No.8991000904365397251) and three batteries outside Barrack No 1, ‘Badi Gol’, Circle No 1.
It may be mentioned that Dhantoli Police had arrested eight persons, including suspended PSI Pradip Nitnawne from Gadchiroli Range, MCOCA accused Suraj Kanhaiyalal Kawle (22), a resident of Khaperkheda, Shubham Kawle (Suraj Kawle’s brother), his friend Suraj Waghmare, Moreshwar Sonwane, Mukesh Babu Panjabrao Nayudu, Bhagirath Thardayal and Arthav Khatakhti (One of the members of hardened criminal Sheikhu’s gang) and police constable Sachin (brother of tainted PSI Nitnawne) for operating a massive racket of smuggling banned substances like narcotics, cellphones, batteries and phone chargers inside the prison.
The racket was busted when MCOCA accused Suraj Kawle made a futile attempt to sneak in Marijuana packets and batteries of different handsets in a chargesheet filed inside the jail on Monday afternoon. After two days of the incident, 350 police personnel had conducted searches in the jail premises but could lay hands only on five gramme marijuana from a prisoner.
Preliminary investigations by the Crime Branch on the basis of the call data records of the accused’s cellphone revealed that most of calls were allegedly being made from ‘Anda Cell’ and ‘Fasi Yard’ where top gangsters, terrorists and Maoists were lodged.
The team sent by ADG (Prisons), Pune, conducting a simultaneous internal inquiry found the handset, SIM cards and three batteries lying abandoned in front of the high security area in the jail.
After seizing the banned objects, sepoy Vijay Ramkrishna Solanke (25), a resident of Quarter, Building No 7, Central Jail lodged a fresh complaint with Dhantoli Police who registered a case under Section 42 (Penalty for introduction or removal of prohibited articles into or from prison and communication with prisoners), 45 (12)[ Prison offences of receiving, possessing or transferring any prohibited article) of the Prisons Act and Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.
A senior police official on the condition of anonymity told ‘The Hitavada that the investigation by the Crime Branch was in full swing and possibility of involvement of some more persons, including some jail employees, in the racket cannot be ruled out. “Minute technical analysis suggests that use of mobile phones by inmates was rampant in Central Jail,” he added.