Sleuths uncover parole racket in Bangalore Central Jail

BANGALORE, May 24: A large-scale parole racket operates in the Bangalore Central Jail. This was confirmed by the Corps of Detectives (CoD) ...

BANGALORE, May 24: A large-scale parole racket operates in the Bangalore Central Jail. This was confirmed by the Corps of Detectives (CoD) in its report submitted to the Government last week.

The CoD has revealed that the operation has the tacit support and involvement of top jail officials. Accusing Dr Malikarjuniah, the jail medical officer, of treating only rich prisoners, it has urged his transfer on charges of negligence and dereliction of duty.

The State Government had asked the CoD to investigate into the affairs of the Central Jail following reports in The Indian Express that a prisoners’ mafia was operating in the jail.

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The Indian Express report had revealed how the jail authorities connived so that only rich prisoners and undertrials were given parole. Probing the matter, the CoD uncovered various irregularities in the method of granting parole to a prisoner.

The Karnataka Prison Manual states that a prisoner applying for parole should send his application to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police. Only after his application is cleared by them, can he avail of parole for 30 days on a surety from two people of Rs 6,000. His parole period can be extended upto 90 days in case of illness or death of a family member, at the discretion of the ADG (Prisons).

However, the CoD found that no surety was given by prisoners who were granted parole. One jail inmate, Narayanswamy, obtained parole within just eight days after applying. Another prisoner, Ashok, was found to have availed of parole for 390 days.

The CoD report also draws attention to an undertrial, R Saravanan, who lost one of his eyes while cutting roots and chopping logs for firewood in the jail. Alleging negligence by Malikarjuniah, the CoD has recommended that Saravanan should be adequately compensated.

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According to the CoD report, another undertrial, Sadiq, who suffered from burn injuries at the time of his detention, was refused medical treatment. Quoting 12 prisoners, the CoD has stated that fellow undertrials were made to dress his burns even as Sadiq’s condition deteriorated.

One of the prisoners, Hariprasad, suffering from tuberculosis, alleged that the jail doctor had refused to treat him since he could not pay Rs 500 as bribe.

Stern action against erring officials and a range of reforms in the jail have been recommended. The CoD has also suggested the upgradation of the jail hospital with better facilities, describing the present conditions as “pathetic” and alleging that the prisoners were being given substandard drugs.