SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM: While the government took swift action in the Colvale jail assault case suspending the Superintendent, Jailor and Jail Guards, it is shocking that for four-and-a-half months there has been no action in the Sada jail raid case where a large number of non-permitted articles had been seized.
On June 5, according to the Superintendent’s report, 18 mobiles, ten mobile chargers, 34 SIM cards, and several packets of tobacco were seized by a special team headed by then Aguada Jail Superintendent Melvyn Vaz during a surprise raid.
Besides Vaz and Superintendent of Sada jail, Deputy Collector Gaurish Sankhalwalkar, 25 guards conducted the raid.
Herald had earlier exposed how inmates were keeping themselves updated on events outside the jail walls through the social media and how banned products were smuggled into the jail despite its ‘foolproof’ security system.
What is shocking is that Inspector General of Prisons, Elvis Gomes is sitting on the report submitted by the Sada Jail Superintendent for over four months now.
Jail staffers, speaking to Herald on condition of anonymity, have directly accused Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bhanudas Pednekar of running the racket in the Sada jail. “He has started his own business and the profit is in lakhs of rupees,” said a jail guard.
The guards have also alleged that Pednekar is sharing the bribe amount with those above him in rank at the headquarters.
“Why has no action been initiated on Sada Jail Superintendent or Bhanudas Pednekar? It is only because he is politically well-connected and is keeping the superiors happy,” sources said.
As per the jail records, the staff carries out surprise checks in the lock-up. However, they never had such a huge seizure, which raises serious questions as to whether those who were in charge of the surprise checks were performing their duties or were part of an illegal system.
Suspended Jail Superintendent Melvyn Vaz says he has already submitted a report to the IG Prisons with the names of the people responsible.
“I have signed the report and submitted to the IGP and it is now for him to act,” he told Herald.
Inspector General of Prisons, Elvis Gomes when contacted agreed no action has been taken in Sada Jail raid case.
“There are hundreds of people coming in and going out of the jail daily. How can we check everybody?” Gomes asked. He added, “There are visitors, the under-trials go out for hearing etc and it is very difficult to keep a tab.”
Asked why no action has been initiated against the jail staff like Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent Bhanudas Pednekar, he replied, “Everybody is under the needle of suspension that does not mean we should suspend everybody. First of all we have limited jail staff and we go on suspending everybody how will the jails run?”
