2003 Gateway bomber who was sentenced to death dies in jail

Mateen Hafeez I TNN | Feb 12, 2019, 03.45 AM IST

 

 

MUMBAI: Hanif Sayyed, 56, one of the three convicts sentenced to death in the 2003 twin bomb blasts at the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar, died in Nagpur jail on Sunday. TOI had published the news of his death in its final edition on Monday.

Sources said Sayyed’s health suddenly deteriorated on Saturday evening in jail, after which he was shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital. He died at the hospital one-and-a-half hours after he was admitted.

According to preliminary information, he died of a cardiac arrest. His body was later sent for a post-mortem. A relative from Pune said his body would be buried in Nagpur.

Retired ACP Suresh Walishetty, who was chief investigating officer in the case, said Sayyed, an Andheri resident, was working in Dubai in 2002 when he was radicalised by some people. He returned to India and executed the blasts that killed 54 persons and injured 184. Sayyed had told the police that some people he met in Dubai had showed him videos and photos from the 2002 Gujarat riots and told him atrocities were being perpetrated against Muslims.

Sayyed and Ashrat Ansari then formed a group, the Gujarat Muslim Revenge Force, which carried out the blasts. Sayyed, his wife Fahmeeda and Ansari were awarded death sentences in 2009 and the Bombay high court later upheld the trial court’s order. Sayyed’s appeal before the SC is pending. Walishetty, who called Sayyed a “simple man,” said that “after he was indoctrinated in the UAE, he returned to India and drove an autorickshaw for a while.” Walishetty said the case was solved because the driver of the taxi in which the bomb was planted had had a providential escape. He had stepped out to use a toilet when the bomb went off at the Gateway of India on August 25, 2003.

“We got the taxi driver, Shivnarayan Pandey. ...this was our first lead in the case.” The taxi driver told police he had been hired by a couple who had got into his cab from Andheri. It was the second day the couple, along with their two children, had travelled in his cab, he said. “The couple had told Pandey they were not from Mumbai and wanted to go sightseeing. On the first day, Pandey took them to south Mumbai and on returning to Andheri, they asked him to come again the next day,” Walishetty said. Within 24 hours the cops were at Chimatpada in Andheri, where Sayyed lived with his family. “We heard Sayyed’s wife, Fahmeeda, was seen with a man, Ashrat Ansari. We first picked up Ansari,” he said. Taken in a police van to Aarey Colony and interrogated by inspector Vinayak Saude and his team, Ansari, a zari worker, spilled the beans.

“We then went to Chimatpada and saw a crowd in Sayyed’s lane. A neighbour of Sayyed had died. We mingled in the crowd and finally entered his house, bringing Sayyed to the lockup,” Walishetty said.

The probe into the blasts was supervised by Rakesh Maria, then additional commissioner. During interrogation, Sayyed said that on the day of the blasts, his family had got down from Pandey’s taxi at Gateway of India and told him they were going for lunch. After they left, Pandey also got off, to go to the toilet. Moments later, the taxi was ripped apart by the explosion. The Sayyeds had left their bag, containing bombs, inside the taxi. The couple left the place and reached home. “After reaching home, the couple sat to watch the news on TV,” Walishetty said.


The Times of India, February 12, 2019

In a month, 4,000 inmates in Maharashtra prisons depose by video

Mateen Hafeez / TNN 

 Jan 16, 2019, 07.48 AM IST

MUMBAI: Court appearances of prisoners from a section of state jails using the cost- and time-effective videoconferencing facility are up 77% since 2016. In 2018, around 45,000 inmates were produced in court via videoconferencing compared with 26,000 in 2016.

The number of prison inmates produced before courts via videoconferencing rose to 3,941 in November 2018 from 2,229 in the corresponding period of 2016. Till date, as many as 3.3 lakh prisoners lodged in the state’s south region jails have been produced in court via this facility since it was first introduced in 2005.

Those produced in court via videoconferencing are inmates whose trials have not begun or who are involved in sensitive cases and whose trips out of prison involve security issues. When Indrani Mukherjea, an accused in the Sheena Bora murder, was discharged from J J Hospital last April, she was produced before the CBI court via videoconferencing.

The facility was first introduced in state prisons in 2005. Initially, it faced several technical issues which were sorted out over time. “A few years ago, almost all prisons got the facility, which has made it easier to produce prisoners before courts,” said a prison officer, indicating that this has helped expedite trials and prevent prolonged detention.

At least two policemen are required to escort an accused to court. “Many a times we do not get the required escort personnel and sometimes inmates are not sent to court for hearing. Even we want all of them to attend court but feel helpless,” said the officer.

In the past, inmates have also given escort parties the slip, but this is virtually ruled out in videoconferencing. “An unwell inmate can also attend court from the VC room. It helps in speedy trial,” the source said.



The Times of India, January 16, 2019

Maha will free 102 prisoners to mark Gandhi Jayanti

Mateen.Hafeez@timesgroup.com 
 

Mumbai: Maharashtra prison department has identified 102 convicts who will be released under the Centre’s amnesty on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary coming up in 2019. The convicts will be released on October 5 from different jails in the state. 

Those who will be freed are men above 60 years and women above 55 who have served two-third of their sentence.

The declaration came Tuesday at Arthur Road jail where a special programme was organised by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal to mark Gandhi Jayanti.

Sarvodaya Mandal head TRK Somaiya said, “Premshankar Tiwari and Kamlesh Gandhi, volunteers of Sarvodaya Mandal, introduced inmates to Gandhi’s thoughts. Jail superintendent, Harshad Ahirrao, encouraged prisoners to follow the path of truth and non-violence. Gandhiji’s autobiography was given to the three inmates from Arthur Road jail who will be freed this week. The prisoners promised to read the book and follow Gandhi’s ideologies to start a new life.”

The state government had set up a four-member committee to examine cases of eligible prisoners and make recommendations. Initially, it was decided the prisoners will be released on October 2 (Tuesday), the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rajvardhan Sinha, inspector general of police (Prisons), told TOI, “We have identified 102 prisoners and they will be released on October 5. At Tuesday’s function, the convicts were gifted books on Gandhian thought.”

Last year, the union cabinet decided to release convicts serving time for non-heinous crimes in three phases. Those eligible include senior citizens, women, physically challenged and terminally ill inmates who have completed two-third of their sentence. Maximum prisoners identified for release are from Taloja jail. “Thirty seven prisoners will be released from Taloja jail, five from Mumbai’s Arthur Road and two from Thane,” said a jail source.

The special remission has not been given to prisoners convicted for an offence for which the sentence is death or has been commuted to life imprisonment, those involved in serious crimes like rape, dowry death, human trafficking or those convicted under POTA, UAPA and TADA.

(Inputs from Bella Jaisinghani)

The Times of India, October 3, 2018 

3 Taloja jailors, clerk suspended for assaulting murder accused

TNN | Sep 22, 2018, 02.48 AM IST

 

MUMBAI: Three jailors and a clerk from Taloja jail were suspended after an inquiry report found them guilty of assaulting a 30-year-old murder undertrial in January.

The inmate, Mahendra Singh alias Zorawar Singh Bajwa alias Mitthu Balkan Singh, a Gurgaon resident, was sent to Taloja jail on charges of murdering the former chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Meenakshi Jaiswal, at her Kharghar residence in December 2014. Jaiswal, 46, was wife of Malegaon sessions court judge Santosh Jaiswal.

Those suspended are jailors Atul Kale, Maheshukar Mali, Amit Gurav and clerk Paravin Salunkhe.

The assault incident dates back to January 2, when Singh had an argument with another inmate over switching off the ceiling fan in the barrack. This led to a heated argument between the two. Later, Kale summoned Singh and shouted at him over his behaviour. The jailors told the inquiry panel that Singh argued with them and a few fisticuffs were exchanged. But Singh, in his complaint, alleged that the police personnel had demanded money from him for providing him ‘good place’ in the jail and when he refused, they beat him up. He fractured his leg and was admitted to the jail hospital after the incident, police officials said.

Singh then approached the Bombay high court and sought a probe into the assault. The HC directed the director general of prisons to probe the matter. After the inquiry was concluded, the three jailors and a clerk were suspended last week. In addition, a default report against three more jailors —Prakash Pikrao, Bapurao Mote and Srinivas Patakal—has also been submitted. “Action against the trio is likely soon,” said a jail officer, adding that it may be in the form of stoppage of increment. “Their direct role in the assault case has not been established, but it has been found in part of it,” added the officer.

Singh was first arrested by the Gurgaon police after he murdered his neighbour. He was in Haryana jail and was later granted bail. While on bail, he moved to Kharghar where his sister lived and started hunting for a job. But he came in contact with a robber gang and in December 2014, along with Jaiswal’s domestic help Vinayak Chavan and one more accused landed at her Kharghar residence. The police said that Chavan waited downstairs while Singh and the third accused entered the flat. The duo slit Jaiswal’s throat and fled with valuables worth Rs 2.5 lakh. Later, the police arrested Singh and Chavan, who had hatched the robbery-murder plan.


The Times of India, September 22, 2018

Byculla jail death : Six women staff will not be lodged in city prison for trial

 

Six officials of the Byculla jail were arrested in connection with the death of a woman prisoner. (File Photo)

Mateen Hafeez | TNN | Jun 21, 2018, 05:01 IST

MUMBAI: The prison authorities on Wednesday said they don't have any plan to shift six female jail officials accused of killing a convict, Manjula Sheteye, from Thane central prison to Byculla women's prison for trial.
The crime branch had arrested the six officials, including jailer Manisha Pokharkar, and constables Bindu Naikade, Waseema Shaikh, Shital Shegaonkar, Surekha Gulve and Aarti Shingne, on July 1, 2017, for kicking and punching Sheteye to death in the prison. A day after special judge Shayana Patil of the sessions court framed charges against the six suspended women jail staffers, a senior jail official said, "They have been kept at Thane Central Jail and we don't have any plan to shift them to Byculla women's prison. They will be transported from Thane to Mumbai by the police escort in a van." Usually, inmates facing trial in Mumbai are shifted to Mumbai jails if lodged outside the city for security reasons and to save time.

All the accused were lodged at the Byculla women's jail where the incident took place. Sheena Bora murder case accused, Indrani Mukherjea, is also lodged in this prison and due to some security reasons, she was previously produced before a court through video-conferencing facility for her case hearing.

The jail authorities are still to decide on producing the accused jail staffers through video-conferencing. "If we get an order from court, we can do it," said the officer.

The Times of India, June 21, 2018

Roza unites faiths in women’s jail

Mateen Hafeez and Mohua Das | TNN | Jun 11, 2018, 05:00 IST

 

(Representative image)

 

 

MUMBAI: Like the others, she wakes up when it is still dark for her Sehri, the pre-dawn Roza meal, so that she can abstain from food and drinks for the rest of the day. She breaks her fast at dusk and will continue to follow the Roza routine like the others until the sighting of the moon next week. But unlike the other Rozadar women, Pushpa Singh is a Hindu.

Pushpa isn’t the only one crossing the religious divide this Ramzan. In a rare gesture of communal camaraderie, as many as 25 Hindu women inmates at the Byculla women’s prison are stepping outside their egos and thresholds to observe Roza—rising, fasting and eating—together with more than a hundred of their Muslim counterparts, in the hope of good luck, good health and good companionship.

“It’s wonderful to see Hindu prisoners rise three hours before their wakeup call and follow the Roza rituals. Together, they make arrangements for over 130 people to eat. Most of them are on trial for murder, fraud and other crimes, but it’s interesting to see their faith in the almighty irrespective of their individual allegiance,” said a jail official.

Seema Patil may have been arrested for assault, but in prison she seems keen on trying out a more amicable life. “I have heard about Ramzan since I was a child, but never seen it being observed from such close quarters. Watching my fellow inmates go about their rituals made me curious and I wanted to experience it too. I don’t read the Namaz but when they pray, I sit nearby and pray too. It’s all an attempt to find a connection with God,” Patil told an officer in the jail.

Religions may contradict one another, but that has barely made a dent in this prison. Of the 317 incarcerated women in the Byculla women’s prison, 200 are Muslim. Regardless of their own faith, many fast because their fellow inmate in the same cell is fasting. Some of the Hindu inmates take care of the children as their mothers partake in Namaz and Iftaar while many others avoid turning on the television in their barracks during those hours, informed a senior jail official.

Byculla jail cell turned into ‘Ramzan barrack’

The ambience is very different during these days, especially when Muslim and Hindu prisoners go to the jail canteen together to buy fruits,” said the officer.

• Stay and save more with Hyatt.Hyatt

With temperatures touching 40 degrees in Mumbai, special space has been made in one of the barracks for praying and breaking fast; jail timings too have been relaxed for fasting prisoners.

Aruna Mugutrao, Byculla jail’s superintendent, says, “We’ve turned one of the cells into a Ramzan barrack where Rozadar inmates are kept. Iftaar is organised in a separate barrack called Rozadar cell. It’s easier for us to manage too. Male prisoners lodged in another section of the prison cook the Sehri meals.”
Navratri, hoping their prayers too would be heard.


(Names changed for privacy)


The Times of India, June 11, 2018

5 Byculla jail officials suspended for negligence after undertrial flees

Mateen Hafeez | TNN | May 12, 2018, 03:29 IST

 

Picture for representational purpose only

MUMBAI: Following the escape of a 19-year-old undertrial from the high-security Byculla jail last week, the prison authorities have suspended five jail personnel for negligence. The undertrial, Majid Shaikh, a Goregaon resident, had been arrested for stealing a cellphone.
A jail source said five jail personnel were found guilty of negligence. "They are jailor Anthony Manezes, head constable Balu Bansode, constables Rajanendra Magar, Dipak Tumade and Suresh Shirsath," said the source.

 

The undertrial had been arrested on May 2 by the railway police at Bandra and was sent to prison a day later. Jail officials said that from the sequence of events, it seems as if Shaikh had done a recce on May 4 to plan his escape. "A guest house is being constructed on the second floor of the administrative building. Shaikh crossed his barrack premises, discreetly climbed the bamboos to reach the second floor. A guard was on the second-floor, but he was unaware of this man's movement," said the source, adding that Shaikh walked out between noon and 1 pm.

Jail authorities learnt of the escape while taking a roll call at 5 pm.
  

The Times of India, May 12, 2018

Jailed ex-MLA sent to custody for abusing cop

Mateen Hafeez

Mumbai: 



  Former MLA Ramesh Kadam, who is lodged in Byculla jail for his alleged involvement in a Rs 365-crore scam, was remanded in police custody for a day for allegedly abusing a police officer outside the jail last week.

 On May 18, when Kadam was being escorted out of jail for check-up, he started arguing with assistant police inspector Manoj Pawar. A cop shot his outburst on his phone.In the clip, Kadam is seen taunting Pawar and asking someone to call up additional police commissioner (Aswathi) Dorje and complain that Pawar demanded Rs 25,000. On Wednesday, police told Sewri court that the extortion allegation against Pawar was false. They claimed Kadam used his phone en route to court.





The Times of India, May 25, 2017

Jailed ex-MLA caught on video abusing cop





Was Being Taken Out By Officer For Hospital Check-Up

 

Mateen Hafeez 

 Mumbai: A video of former MLA Ramesh Kadam, who is lodged in Byculla Jail in a Rs 365-crore scam, abusing an on-duty cop at the jail's main gate has gone viral, inviting an inquiry .
The incident occurred around 10.45am, Thursday , when Kadam was being escorted out of the jail for a medical check-up at JJ Hospital. “Once outside the gate, assistant police inspector Manoj Pawar asked him to stand on the side, which might have angered Kadam (once an NCP MLA from Solapur),“ said asource. In the video, Kadam is seen in a threatening posture abusing Pawar. Kadam was arrested in August 2015 for his suspected role in a scam involving the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (LASDC), of which he was chairman.

Joint police commissioner (law and order) Deven Bharti told TOI, “We have asked Akhilesh Singh (DCP zone-III) to inquire into the matter. We will take action as per the findings of the probe report.“ Pawar approached the Nagapda police station on Thursday and told them about the incident. The police noted down the matter in a diary , but no FIR or NC was registered.

At the time of the incident, Kadam and a few cops were waiting for a police van when Kadam started arguing with Pawar. A constable recorded it on his cellphone. In the video, Kadam can be seen taunting Pawar, saying he was behaving like a woman. He went on to tell Pawar that he was behaving like a eunuch.Kadam is also heard asking someone to call up additional police commissioner (Aswathi) Dorje and complain that Pawar demanded Rs 25,000 from him.

Abusing Pawar, Kadam told him to open the jail gate again so that he could go in as he wasn't in the mood to go to the hospital. While Pawar asked some cops to take Kadam inside, nobody moved. “I will bring a privilege motion against you (translation from Marathi),“ Kadam is heard threatening Pawar.

In February last year, a senior medi cal officer attending to undertrials at Arthur Road jail filed a complaint against Kadam (who was then at that jail), alleging that he had abused and threatened him. Based on Dr Rahul Ghule's complaint, the N M Joshi Marg police registered an offence under the IPC's sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).

The Times of India, May 20, 2017

Solar power delivers hot water to prisoners

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: 



Authorities at the Byculla women's prison have tied up with a solar power firm to provide hot water baths for ill prisoners.

 

“Earlier, if doctors would advice warm water for certain prisoners, the jail kitchen would be used to heat water.Now, a private firm has installed a solar electricity system, with which a water tank is heated,“ said a jail officer.Inspector general of prisons (south region) Bipin Kumar Singh made it clear that the facility is only for “prisoners who are patients“.

Around 190 women are lodged in the prison. Some are pregnant and many have children aged below six years. Expecting women and children often require hot water. An official said the facility has been extended to children as well.

The facility follows the in stallation of CCTV cameras and jammers to make prisons safer.
No long ago, 97 CCTV cam eras were installed at Arthur Road Jail. Before this, the only time CCTV coverage was provided in a jail in recent memory was in the case of executed 2611 convict Ajmal Kasab. Also, 72 cameras have been installed in Taloja jail.

The CCTV initiative is part of an overall `e-prison' concept. This includes the provision of over 200 laptops and desktops, and 100 display screens to various courts, the home department and jails, to enable court hearings and trials through video conferencing.

“The video conferencing facility is already sparing us the burden of prisoners' escorts,“ said Singh.

The Times of India, April 3, 2015

Test for jailers: Re-exam held after duo's arrest

Mateen Hafeez/ TNN

Mumbai: The state prison au thorities recently conducted a re-examination of a paper that jailors need to clear for promotion and increment. This was necessitated in the wake of the arrest of Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Barkule and his deputy Pradip Pathrikar for accepting Rs 35,000 as bribe from a jailer so that he could clear the exam despite his poor performance. “The examination was conducted last week at Pune. Barkule and Pathrikar were exam paper assessment moderators. The decision for a re-examination was taken to avoid any suspicion, allegation and keeping it fair and transparent,“ said a jail official in Mumbai The Times of India, June 5, 2014

Half a dozen mobiles being used in Arthur Rd jail: Cops

Sleuths Monitoring Criminals’ Calls Found They Were Made From Prison

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: At least half a dozen mobile phones are being illegally used by inmates of Arthur Road jail, arguably the state’s most high-security prison. Sources in security agencies familiar with the investigations said the phones are being used by hardened criminals and gangsters to run extortion rackets and plan other criminal acts.
 

    According to a senior security officer, a politician had, during the run-up to the elections, allegedly made phone calls to a gangster in the prison and asked him convince his men to support his party.
 

    Despite the recent cleanup efforts after the arrest of two officials on bribery charges and the discovery of a cellphone in a gangster’s possession, the jail is yet to be completely rid of gangsters’ mobile phones. This information came to the security personnel’s knowledge while they were monitoring some gangsters’ phone calls outside the prison. “We found that the other phone’s location was Arthur Road jail. A gangster lodged in the prison makes use of a mobile phone, but does not keep it in his cell. He could be afraid of some vigilance raid and might not want to lose the device,” said a police source.
 

    If the use of phones within the jail is very much in the security’s knowledge, why don’t they seize the devices or alert jail officials? “These are matters of operational secrecy which cannot be discussed with other agencies. If we seize the phones, how will we get the information we are getting now?” replied a senior police official.
 

    The information that phones are being used by the prison inmates has come at a time when jail authorities are busy in installing phone jammers. Despite earlier attempts by cellphone companies, the jammer installation process had got stuck due to technical reasons. “Frequencies of mobile phones were so powerful that jammers could not stop them. This time, cellphone companies have come up with advanced versions of jammers and stronger technology,” said a jail official.
 

    Jail officials conduct surprise checks in various cells but are unable to find the mobile phones. “Hardened criminals in the jail probably get an inkling of the raid and hence, hide the instrument,” said a police source. On several occasions in the past, the police have recovered cellphones from this prison despite jail officials’ claim of non-existence of mobile phones.
 

GANGSTERS DIAL M FOR MURDER
    The official capacity of Arthur Road jail is for 804 inmates. But, it houses over 2,500 prisoners. Cellphones are not allowed in the prison
    During a surprise check in April, authorities recovered a cellphone, battery and a SIM card from a murder accused, Uday Pathak. He was later arrested in another case
    Phones are smuggled by “carriers”, who are petty criminals. For hardened criminals, phones are vital to stay in touch with their aides
    A few years ago, the crime branch had arrested ex-Chhota Rajan aide, D K Rao, from within the jail. Police had recovered a cellphone, a SIM card and some batteries

The Times of India, May 12, 2014

State jail officials want judges to hear cases on Skype

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The state prison authorities have proposed that courts should procure laptops equipped with Skype so that the judges can conduct hearings in cases involving high-security risk prisoners. Besides, they have also asked the staterun JJ Hospital to start a video-conferencing facility to enable 

the doctors to monitor if a prisoner is really required to be hospitalized.
 

    The move comes after several meetings of the prison officials over issues pertaining to jail security and shortage of escort personnel. “We have video-conferencing rooms in the jails. However,most of the courts do not have this facility and the judges have to walk to a common ‘video conferencing room’ to conduct the hearing. We have proposed laptops equipped with Skype be given to the judges and it will save time and money. The suggestion has been sent to the directorate of prosecution,” said asenior prison official.
 

    Another problem jail officials have been facing is the installation of jammers. In the past five years, at least five trials were conducted to place jammers within the Arthur Road jail. However, during each trial it was found that the electronic waves of the mobile phone tower were stronger than the jammers. “Finally, technical experts have found a solution to it and jammers will soon be installed at Arthur Road, Taloja and Thane jails,” said the official.
 

    Last month, Arthur Road Jail authorities had recovered a mobile phone, battery and a SIM card from a quadruple murder accused, Uday Pathak. He revealed he had been in touch with his other gang members through the mobile phone. “While we take all the precaution to stop such illegal activities, jammers would help us to disconnect mobile phone network within the jail premises,” said a jail official. 

    Nearly a dozen CCTV cameras are being installed at the Arthur Road jail. “This will send a message to the staff that they are also being monitored besides the prisoners,” a police source.
 

BOOSTING SECURITY

Installation of 20 CCTV cameras each in Arthur Road, Taloja and Thane jails
Video-conferencing between JJ Hospital doctors and inmates for treatment
Laptop with Skype facility in courts to communicate with the prisoners considered highsecurity risks 

 

The Times of India, May 2, 2014

Arthur Road jail chief’s wealth touches 2 crore

The Arthur Road jail, where Vasudev Barkule is now kept after his arrest in a graft case

S Ahmed Ali & Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: An Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raid on Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Barkule’s ancestral home in Nanded on Tuesday resulted in the recovery of assets and cash that added Rs 55 lakh to his wealth.  The total haul from the ACB investigation into a bribery case against Barkule has been Rs 2 crore so far.
 

    Barkule has been kept in an isolated cell which was earlier used by the security guards of executed Pakistani gunman, Ajmal Kasab. The jail constables who used to be posted for security in different barracks on Barkule’s order are now monitoring him.
 

    ACB officials led by NV Deshmukh have been camping in Nanded since Barkule’s arrest in the corruption case last week, but could not conduct the search operations earlier as a result of the election in Nanded.
 

    In Barkule’s house at Tajnagar in Nanded alone, the police found Rs 2.31 lakh in cash, fixed deposits of Rs 25 lakh, a fixed deposit of Rs 10.50 lakh in his wife’s name
and gold ornaments worth Rs 18 lakh.
   

 “We are still searching and are yet to calculate the value of properties spread elsewhere,” an officer said.   The officer said a case of disproportionate assets had been registered against Barkule.

    Barkule and deputy superintendent Pradeep Pathrikar were caught accepting a bribe of Rs 35,000 from a candidate appearing for the jailor’s exam early this month.
 

    In the city, the police found Rs 40 lakh in cash from Barkule’s jail residence, besides gold, savings and FDs in banks amounting to more than Rs 1 crore.
 

    Now in jail, Barkule has refused to give an application for home-made food.
 

    “He is saying the jail food is healthy and hygienic and he would prefer having the same food which is prepared by the inmates for prisoners. Barkule’s official residence is just 100 metres from his cell,” an officer said.
 

    Barkule’s wife and children live at his residence. “Even if his family want to meet him, they will have to go and register themselves outside the prison and come in the queue like common people and meet him for a few minutes,” the officer said.

 

The Times of India, April 23, 2014

Basic amenities in prison come at a price: Inmates

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The arrest of top Arthur Road jail officials—superintendent Vasudev Barkule and his deputy Pradip Pathrikar—for accepting a bribe to clear a candidate in an examination for jailors has blown the lid off graft behind bars.
 

    Jail inmates are, however, trapped in a vicious circle. They claim that there is a price tag on staples in prison.
 

    A blast accused, who is now out on bail, said corruption in prison starts at the gate. “Several prisoners are brought to Arthur Road jail daily. They are frisked by inmates and babas (as jail constables are referred) at the entry gate. Most of them bring some cash and conceal it in shirt sleeves, collars, trousers and innerwear,” said the blast accused.
 

    Before the frisking starts, all new prisoners are instructed to deposit their belongings with the authorities. However, many inmates do not heed the directive. “The money recovered while searching prisoners is seized and most of it goes to jail staffers,” he added.
 

    Even a “suitable” barrack comes for a price. “The wellheeled, who have never committed a crime in the past, would not like to be accommodated with hardened criminals. They pay to get a separate barrack,” said a source. Pillows and bed sheets, which an inmate is entitled to free of cost, are soiled and prisoners have to grease palms to get fresh ones.
 

    A developer, who spent four days in Arthur Road jail last year, said, “I was surprised when a habitual offender approached me and rattled off details of the case against me. He demanded money for not creating trouble for me in the jail.” Prison coupons that inmates use instead of cash can be purchased on the black market. “Hundred coupons are valued at Rs 100. Inmates sell 70 coupons for Rs 100 and jail staffers are aware of the practice,” said a source.
 

COMFY IN CAPTIVITY 500-1K | Accommodating inmates in a “suitable” barrack 

200-500 | Getting fresh pillows or bed sheets 

100–500 | Meeting relatives for longer time 

1K–5K | Relaying messages outside prison 

200–1K | Housing new prisoners with “peace-loving” inmates

The Times of India, April 20, 2014

Prison staff exam under cloud after graft arrests

Internal Exam Likely To Be Conducted Again

 

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The arrest of Arthur Road prison’s two senior-most officials has cast a shadow on the internal exam process. Prison authorities are now considering conducting re-examination of the internal papers for promotions and increment.
 

    The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule and his deputy Pradip Pathrikar for demanding and accepting a Rs 40,000 bribe for clearing a candidate in an exam for jailors.
 

    Meeran Borwankar, additional director general of prisons, said, “A re-examination of papers is under consideration.” As many as 30 jailors appeared for the departmental test that makes them eligible for increment and promotions, if they pass it. Describing the procedure, a jail official in Mumbai said, “When constables complete five to seven years in jail service, they can appear for the departmental exam for the post of jailor. Even if they pass the examination and become jailors, they have to clear an internal test for increment and promotions. If they pass it, they are eligible for all facilities; however, if anyone fails to clear the exam after five attempts, they have to continue serving as jail constables.” 

    The complainant in Thursday’s case, a jail officer, had taken the exam for the post of jailor held on March 25. When the exam papers went to Burkule for assessment, the complainant approached Pathrikar for help to clear the exams. When Burkule was told this, he said the complainant’s performance in the exam was “weak”, and demanded Rs 40,000 to clear him. Burkule was caught by the ACB. 

    The charge held by Burkule’s charge has been given to Thane jail’s superintendent G T Pawar. Burkule and Pathrikar have been sent to police custody till April 19. The ACB team recovered Rs 40 lakh and gold ornaments from Barkule’s official residence on the prison premises. He also has money in several savings accounts and fixed deposits worth over Rs 1 crore.
 

    While conviction rate in ACB cases is as low as 30%, officials feel the agency needs legal officers for each officer at the superintendent of police level. At present, there is only one legal officer for the state ACB.

The Times of India, April 19, 2014

Authorities checking out lapses in jail

Mateen Hafeez TNN

Mumbai: The city crime branch may write to the state prison authorities to investigate how a mobile phone, SIM card and battery were smuggled into the Arthur Road jail and used by a quadruple murder suspect, Uday Pathak. He has been taken into crime branch custody for allegedly running criminal activities from within the jail. 

    The vigilance department of the state prisons is checking out the lapses and will submit a report to the inspector general of prisons. However, the use of a phone highlights the urgent need for jammers at the state’s most sensitive prison. “Five mobile firms have given demos but nothing has been installed. It could be delayed due to some technical reason,” a jail official said.
    In December 2005, a cell phone, some batteries and SIM cards were recovered from gangster Chhota Rajan’s aide D K Rao. 

    Rao, who was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, is currently out of jail. TOI had reported how phones were being used by Rao and other Dawood gang members in the jail. Officials blame the security lapse on the delay in installing jammers, priced Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. 

    The prison’s vigilance squad conducts surprise checks but inmates are often tipped off. “We take precautions to prevent smuggling. After every incident, we review the problem and try to control it,” the official said. 

    The phone used by Rao was provided by three constables posted there, officials said. Rao, arrested for opening fire on a police team and attempting to kill them in 1998, was sentenced to a decade in prison. 

    In 2010, Devendra Naidu (40), a robber, allegedly belonging to the Rajan gang, was caught at the gate of the jail while trying to smuggle in a liquor bottle and a cake. Sources said Naidu was carrying in the stuff to celebrate Rajan’s birthday. 

 

 

The Times of India, April 18, 2014

Arthur Rd jail chief, deputy held for graft

Mateen Hafeez & S Ahmed Ali TNN

Mumbai: The anti-corruption bureau on Wednesday night arrested Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 for clearing a candidate in an examination for jailors.
 

    The police recovered Rs 40 lakh and gold ornaments from Barkule’s jail residence in Byculla, and found he had savings accounts and bank fixed deposits amounting to more than Rs 1 crore.
 

    Cases of corruption within the state’s most sensitive jail have been reported earlier, but this is the first time the superintendent of the prison, where Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab was kept, has been found to be involved in a bribery case.
 

   The complainant, a jail officer, had appeared for an examination for the post of jailor on March 25. The exam papers came to Burkule for assessment. The complainant approached Pathrikar for help to clear the exams. When the matter reached Burkule, he said the complainant’s performance in the exam was “weak” and demanded Rs 40,000 to clear him.  

 

ACB listened in on phone call with prison chief 

    The superintendent of Arthur Road Jail, Vasudev Burkule, and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, have been arrested in a case of bribery. 

    “The complainant (a jail officer) came to us at 11.30am on Wednesday and narrated his story. We went through his application and then set a trap,” said Vishwas Nangre-Patil, additional commissioner of police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).  Three police inspectors and 16 constables led by an assistant commissioner reached the jail at 7pm. The complainant went to Pathrikar’s residence, adjacent to the jail, and before handing him over the money, called up Burkule at 7.17pm. He spoke to him till 7.47pm, and later again for two minutes. The conversations included a demand for a bribe. 

    The ACB team entered the house soon after Pathrikar accepted the bribe on behalf of Burkule, and placed him under arrest. The team then headed to the jail, where Burkule stays in the barracks.
    When the team knocked on his door and told him they were from the ACB, he tried to be aggressive. 

    “Burkule surrendered after hearing that Pathrikar had already been arrested. We found Rs 70,000 in his pocket. The two sales tax officers, who acted as independent panchas, displayed their IDs too,” said additional CP, ACB, Vishwas Nangre-Patil. 

    The police team used wristwatch, pen and keychain cameras in the top-secret operation.  Burkule and Pathrikar, who have been suspended, have been remanded in police custody till April 19.  

 

JAILHOUSE ROCKED BY GRAFT
 

TOP SECRET OPERATION The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Wednesday night arrested Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule and his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar, for demanding and accepting a bribe of 40,000 for clearing a candidate in an exam for jailors
 

ACTION TAKEN The two have been suspended, and have been remanded to police custody till April 19
 

WHAT WAS RECOVERED A search of Arthur Road jail superintendent Vasudev Burkule resulted in the recovery of 40 lakh, a State Bank of India (Nanded) fixed deposit (FD) of 12.50 lakh, Bank of Maharashtra (Nanded) FD of 5 lakh, 5 lakh in a savings account, 75 tolas gold in a locker, and SBI (Agripada) 20 lakh in a savings account. Nothing incriminating was found at the residence of his deputy, Pradip Pathrikar
 

THE ROT INSIDE
    Other sources of income in jail
    Regular flow of money from inmates and relatives for facilities
    Home food, cigarettes and cell phones regularly supplied inside
    Two jail officials were suspended for negligence following attack on gangster Abu Salem inside Taloja jail 

WHO STAYED THERE Gangsters Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and Arun Gawli, all 1993 serial bomb blast accused, Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab and Indian Mujaheedin members  

 

TIMES VIEW:  

This is not only about corruption. It’s a serious security threat if people in charge of the state’s most sensitive prison are found to be compromised. The government needs to take more care when it comes to such sensitive appointments. It’s not any prison we are talking about; this concerns the Arthur Road jail, which hosts prisoners like Ajmal Kasab.

The Times of India, April 18, 2014

7 SIMI men stab cops, flee MP jail

Anuraag Singh & Mateen Hafeez TNN

 

Indore/Mumbai: Seven hardcore terror suspects belonging to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) cut through the iron bars of a bathroom window in Khandwa jail and escaped around 3.30am on Tuesday after stabbing two constables and looting rifles and wireless sets.

 

    One of the suspects on the run, Abu Faizal, belongs to Mumbai’s Juhu area. He was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh police after the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts.    Another, Aabid Mirza, was nabbed hours later from Sarvodaya Colony in Khandwa, but the other six, including Faizal, are yet to be traced. 

 

 Terror suspects used bedsheets to rappel down prison wall
 

Indore/Mumbai: Madhya Pradesh additional director general (prisons) Muniraju said seven terror suspects belonging to SIMI who escaped a Khandwa jail, used bedsheets to rappel down the wall before escaping on two motorcycles parked in the jail premises — suggesting it was aplanned escape.
 

    They were challenged by two constables whom they stabbed with knives and snatched their rifles, an officer said. The prison doesn’t have perimeter fencing or searchlights. The watch-tower was unmanned. 

    A red-faced MP government suspended prison incharge DSP Sunil Sharma for tardy security and launched amanhunt leading to the capture of Mirza. Apart from Faizal and Mirza, the others have been identified as Amjad, Zakir, Guddu, Aslam and Ejazuddin — all in the age group of 25-35 years.
    “Faizal’s father runs an Alpha Chemist shop in Juhu. Faizal, now 33, was questioned in connection with several bomb blasts that happened in Maharashtra but was never arrested in these cases,” said a source.
 

    Police said Faizal along with veteran SIMI activists, Safdar Nagori and Qayamuddin Kapadia, organised terror training camps at Indore, Kerala and Baroda. “After the 2008 serial bomb blasts, Nagori and Kapadia were arrested and their interrogation led to the arrest of Faizal and others. Faizal was also in close touch with Mira Road’s wanted accused, Abdus Subhan Qureishi alias Tauqeer Bilal. Faizal believed in Nagori’s theory of Maal-e-Ganeemat which says looting from nonbelievers and spending in the name of jihad was a good thing. For this, they robbed three banks in Indore and 10kg gold from a gold financing company,” police said.
 

    The Centre has taken a dim view of the jail-break and sought an explanation from the state government. It also sent a dozen-odd teams to MP to help with the search.
 

THE FUGITIVES The fugitive SIMI operatives were among eight arrested in June, 2011. Led by Abu Fazal alias Doctor, they recced Lucknow, aiming to target the judges and lawyers in Ayodhya case

Abu Fazal alias Doctor (35) Self-styled chief of a SIMI wing and accused in several terror cases, including 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts. Believed to be mastermind of Tuesday’s jailbreak

Mohd. Aslam (26) Accused in seven criminal cases, including the 2009 Khandwa killings

Amjad Ramzan (27) Accused of killing MP-ATS jawan Sitaram Yadav in 2009 in Khandwa district. Involved in 6 other cases

Zakir Hussain alias Sadiq (28) Accused of gunning down MP ATS constable Bharat Singh Raghuvanshi in Ratlam in 2011. accused in a 2009 Khandwa triple murder case

Mehboob alias Guddu (28) Trusted aide of Fazal and accused in Ahmedabad blasts case, besides terror cases in Kerala and MP

Ejazuddin (29) Accused in 5 criminal cases, including the Khandwa case and killing of ATS constable Raghuvanshi

The Times of India, October 2, 2013