VIP treatment given to Arthur Road jail inmates: Former CMO

Mumbai, Apr 22: Former CMO of Arthur Road jail has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging that prison authorities were according "VIP treatment" to inmates in lieu of money, prompting the state government to order a DGP-level probe into the charges.

Rahul Ghule, in his letter dated April 6, alleged that jail authorities demanded bribe from those arrested on charges of economic crimes for availing better facilities.

Minister of State for Home (Urban) Ranjit Patil today said the state government will take strict action against those found guilty. Those arrested for economic offences are lodged in barrack number three.

Ghule alleged that jail officers forced them to cough up lakhs of rupees for availing VIP treatment. A former MP, who is currently lodged in Anda cell of the jail, was asked to pay Rs 10 lakh.

NCP MLA Ramesh Kadam, who is in judicial custody, was once sent to St George Hospital without permission of doctors and was being sent to the hospital again now without any valid reason, the former chief medical officer alleged in the letter.

Media baron Peter Mukerjea, arrested in Sheena Bora murder case, too, was being "pressurised" to pay if he wanted better facilities, Ghule alleged.

PTI