PANJIM: Separate probes into gangster Vinayak Karbotkar’s murder case are expected to expose a larger nexus between some Sada Sub-Jail officials and the Vasco escort cell personnel. The refusal of the jail authorities at Oras, Maharashtra, to take Karbotkar’s custody despite a transit remand, the time taken to ferry him from Oras to Sada and his entry into the jail premises in an inebriated condition have raised queries about what happened enroute.
Prison sources told Herald that Karbotkar’s life could have been saved had information about his transfer from Sada sub jail not been leaked to the Oras jail.
Undergoing trial in NDPS case in Nasik, Karbotkar – who was charged with allegedly murdering notorious history sheeter Ashpak Bhengre at Colvale jail in June 2016 – was shifted to Colvale jail as his presence was required in the local court. After the June incident, Goa police shifted him to Sada sub jail where he met the deadly fate. He was killed in a clash between jail inmates on the night of January 24.
Explaining why Karbotkar was being transferred to Oras jail, an official said, “Since there would always be fights in the jail, the authorities decided to shift Karbotkar to the jail in Oras from where he could easily be transported to Goa to be produced in the local court. In a comprehensive plan, it was decided that when all the prisoners at Sada Sub Jail would be transferred to Colvale Correctional Home in a common escort vehicle on January 24, Karbotkar would be ferried to Oras in another van.”
Karbotkar, who was quarantined from other prisoners, was taken to a Mapusa Court that granted the transit remand. In the meantime, the visit of Governor Mridula Sinha to Colvale Central Jail scuttled the arrangements of shifting the Sada sub jail prisoners to the new jail.
Sources said Karbotkar was upset with the move and protested in the court but the Goa Police did not back down. However, the official said, information was immediately leaked to the Oras jail authorities who wasted no time in approaching the local court and sought a stay on the transfer. “The Oras jail officials told the local (Oras) court that they do not have the facility to lodge the ‘high security prisoner’. The application was allowed. Unaware of the development, the Vasco escort team reached Oras jail only to be sent back at about 6.45 pm,” he added.
As per procedure, Karbotkar should have been produced before the Oras court and then handed over to the jail authorities. There was also no formal communication or request to Oras jail authorities when the transit remand was obtained from Mapusa court. Karbotkar then had to be brought back to the Sada sub jail
Significantly, the distance between Oras and the Sada sub jail, which is usually covered within one and half hours took the escort vehicle nearly four hours. It is learnt that Karbotkar was allegedly drunk when he arrived at Sada sub jail at 10:30 pm.
What took place during the interim period is being investigated as Superintendent of Sada sub jail submitted a report to SP Escort Cell of Goa Police. The report also seeks to probe who disclosed to the Oras team about the transit remand.
While Crime Branch is investigating a case of murder, the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Vasco is conducting an inquiry into the entire episode. In a separate probe, hours after the incident, Additional Inspector General of Prisons Siddhivinayak Naik had submitted a report to the Goa government while the jail superintendent also approached the SP Escort Cell.
