Sangrur jail supdt among 3 booked for taking bribe

Facilitated prolonged stay of two prisoners outside the prison on the basis of false health reports

SANGRUR : Sangrur District Jail superintendent, his deputy and a warder were booked for taking bribe to prolong the stay of two prisoners outside the prison on the basis of false health reports despite them having completed their Covid-19 isolation period, police said on Friday.

Deputy superintendent of police (rural) Satpal Sharma said jail superintendent Balwinder Singh, his deputy Amar Singh and warder Gurpartap Singh were booked under Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Section 52-A of the Prisons Act and sections 51 and 56 of the Disaster Management Act at Sangrur police station city-1.

Police station in-charge Pritpal Singh said the accused provided facilities to inmates — Kamal Kumar alias Rocky and Arun Kumar alias Aru — including access to mobile phones, and did not shift them back to their cells once their isolation period was over.

Reportedly, the Sangrur district jail was converted into a special prison during lockdown and inmates were shifted here from other districts. After 21 days of isolation, they had to be sent again to their respective jails. The FIR further stated that in the case of inmate Arun Kumar, a “wrong report” was sent to the head office that he was in the contact with Covid positive patients.

“To provide mobile services to inmates by taking money in jail is a crime under Section 52-A of the Prisons Act. To have sent inmate Kamal Kumar to a hospital outside the jail for money is also a crime,” the FIR added.

Sangrur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vivek Sheel Soni said the police have registered the case following a probe report by deputy inspector general jails (Patiala circle) and started further investigation into the matter.

As per information, all the accused have been transferred from Sangrur district jail. However, no arrest has been made so far.

SANGRUR JAIL WAS CONVERTED INTO A SPECIAL PRISON DURING LOCKDOWN AND INMATES WERE SHIFTED HERE FROM OTHER DISTRICTS; AFTER 21 DAYS OF ISOLATION, THEY HAD TO BE SENT AGAIN TO THEIR RESPECTIVE JAILS