Bathinda, May 18: The Vigilance Bureau on Thursday arrested Mansa Jail Superintendent Devinder Singh Randhawa on the charge of taking bribes from jail inmates in lieu of providing them facilities illegally.
In December 2017, the VB had arrested Assistant Superintendent Sikander Singh and an inmate Pawan Kumar in the same case. Deputy Superintendent Gurjit Singh Brar is still absconding.
DSP Manjit Singh said, “Ravinder Singh, brother of Gaurav, who was lodged in the jail in a drug-peddling case, complained that the jail authorities were charging between Rs 10,000 and 25,000 for providing illegal facilities to inmates. Bank accounts of some of the jail inmates were also being used by the jail authorities to get relatives transfer money for the purpose,” the police officer said.
On December 17, 2017, Sikander Singh was arrested along with Pawan while accepting Rs 50,000 and a cheque for Rs 86,200.
Although the complainant had alleged the involvement of the jail superintendent as well, he was not arrested at that time. Following inquest proceedings into the case, it had been found that while stepping out, inmate Pawan had made the guard speak to the superintendent from his own illegally-kept mobile phone.
The superintendent had given the guard permission to allow the inmate to step out.As the inquiry indicted the superintendent, Randhawa was arrested and Rs 40,000 cash was recovered from his possession. Further inquiry was underway, the DSP said.
Source Tribune India
