PANJIM: In 2012, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power on the promise of zero-tolerance to corruption but once in power has made several U-turns on its promises. Herald has acquired a document which proves that the BJP-led government has decided to turn a blind eye to instances of corruption.
In 2013, barely a year after BJP formed the government, the Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) as well as the Under Secretary Home, who probed the ‘Dum Maro Dum’ scam at Sada Jail, had recommended strict action against Assistant Superintendent of Sada jail Bhanudas Pednekar for his alleged involvement in illegalities but the government failed to take any action against him.
Pednekar is now allegedly involved in the transfer of drugs and
mobiles to Colvale jail for Nigerian under-trials, who were allegedly beaten by jail guards on October 10. Superintendent of Colvale jail Melvyn Vaz, Jailor Krina Usgaonkar and four jail guards have been suspended but Pednekar has escaped punishment again.
In 2013, based on media reports that prohibited items like drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, mobile phones were found with the convicts and under-trials, the Director General of Police had instituted an inquiry through then Superintendent of Police, Brahma Singh, IPS.
In his report, the SP has clearly indicted Pednekar, the assistant superintendent of Sada jail, who himself was the complainant at Mormugao police station.
“Assistant Superintendent of Sada Jail Bhanudas Pednekar is responsible for negligence, carelessness and connivance for allowing and flourishing illegal trade of prohibited items inside the jail for monetary considerations,” the SP’s report, a copy of which is in possession of Herald, reads.
“It is definitely with his knowledge and consent that illegal activities are continuing and it is observed that he has not taken any corrective measures to rectify the wrong goings besides making record on ineffective seizures which he may use in his defense. He is in possession of 24 operating CCTV cameras having 30-day recording facility, which could have improved things in sub-jail Sada provided he had a will to do it.”
The report also recommended that no staff should be permitted to continue in one jail for more than two years at a stretch so as to avoid friendly contact with prisoners, however Pednekar has been posted at Sada jail for over six years, since 2009, and the government has taken no action.
Moreover, the then Under Secretary (Home), Neetal Amonkar had asked for stern action against Pednekar and this too was ignored by then Inspector General of Prisons, Mihir Vardhan.
“The SP Crime Branch inquiry has found direct involvement of Jailors Adinath Bhaje and Mahesh Fadte, assistant jailor Uday Shirodkar and jail guards Suryaji Narayan Gaonkar, Ravindra Hanu Kavlekar, Namdev Ganesh Naik, Movin Rocky D’Costa, Tulshidas Gadekar who have been responsible for entry of prohibited items in the jail therefore the government has requested that all of them be proceeded against and disciplinary proceedings initiated,” the letter by Home department to IG Prisons, dated August 29, 2013 reads.
Further, the report adds, “Similarly, Bhanudas Pednekar Assistant Superintendent is found guilty of negligence, carelessness and probably connivance and he too may be proceeded against and disciplinary proceedings initiated.”
However shockingly, even when the SP and the government had recommended action against nine jail staffers, including Pednekar, two jailers and six jail guards, the IG Prisons Mihir Vardhan suspended all except for Pednekar.
What is even more shocking is that successive IG Prisons, be it Vardhan or Elvis Gomes, both have refused to take action against Pednekar.
The jail staffers have alleged that Pednekar has been sharing his illegitimate money which he gained from Sada jail with his seniors.
