Prisoner gets `10K award

The prisoner confessed about a bribe of `250, he had been asked to pay the warden at the time Mishra had passed the money to another inmate who paid the bribe

In a rare gesture, an inmate of Cherapally jail who was imprisoned for theft, was awarded `10,000 for his “honest confession” on August 15, by Director-General (Prisons) V.K. Singh.

The prisoner, Mishra (name changed) confessed about a bribe of `250, he had been asked to pay the warden at the time, Y. Srinivas. This confession was revealed during an investigation carried out by the TS prison department.

In light of such allegations, a departmental committee was formed to investigate the report, and the allegations were found to be true. Mishra had passed the sum of `250 to another inmate, Nikhil (name changed). Nikhil who works on the grounds, took the money from Mishra and passed it to the warden during his work outside the prison. When interviewed, Nikhil confirmed that the money had been taken by the warden. However, in a sudden twist, after the investigation began, the warden released a video that went viral. Srinivas was standing beside a railway track at an unidentified place, and was threatening to end his life and also claiming harassment from the prison officials. However, it was finally concluded that Srinivas was extorting money from prisoners.

In a mission to prevent such corruption, the prison administration runs an award programme of offering `1,000 to anyone who reports corruption to authorities.

It is open to all prisoners and prison staff. This initiative gives inmates a chance to be honest and be the change they wish to be despite their past mistakes.