Inmate ‘assault’: HC directs jail official to file fresh report
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) on Wednesday directed the director general (DG) of Taloja Jail, SN Pandey, to prepare a fresh report on the allegations made by a jail inmate that he was assaulted by prison officials.
The directions were issued by HC after perusing an earlier report prepared by the DG. The court found that the earlier report did not contain crucial details and was vague. The earlier report lacked details that would help understand the veracity of the allegations made by the inmate and action taken by the authorities, said the court.
According to the complaint, the inmate was assaulted for not complying with an alleged demand by the officials to give them money in January. While hearing the criminal writ petition filed by the sister of the under-trial inmate of Taloja jail,
the bench of justices BP Dharmadhikari and Sarang Kotwal was told that the medical reports showed that the inmate sustained serious injuries. As the complaint had not been paid heed to by prison officials, the complainant approached HC, she said. The court had then directed the DG of the prison to submit a report in this regard. Chief public prosecutor Deepak Thakare, while referring to the content of the report, said that four officials against whom the inmate had complained had been suspended and the superintendent of the jail had been transferred to Yerwada Jail.
However, the bench took cognisance of the fact that the report neither mentioned the dates on which the officials were suspended nor particulars of the crime.
Unhappy with this, the court observed, “When the report is expected from a government officer, he is duty-bound to assist the court. We fail to understand why the said officer has not commented upon the commission of any crime by these persons.”
The bench has directed the DG to submit the fresh report on December 20. “We grant director general Mr Pandey one opportunity to show his bona fides and make amends in the matter,” said the bench.