Jailed MLA threat to Byculla prison administration and inmates: Report

Jailed MLA Ramesh Kadam, lodged in Byculla prison, is forming a "group" and "influencing other inmates", that poses a threat to inmates and jail administration. This was noted in a report by a judge, who visited the prison recently.

The report was submitted as per the directions of the HC.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla, on Monday, expressed displeasure after reading about the ongoings inside the prison, and have asked Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to appear before it and put forth the explanation.

On the aspect of safety and security of inmates, the report states: Over crowding poses a major security threat to inmates. Convicts of political background and white collar crimes are to be kept away from first-time accused in petty cases. It reads: "But it has been found that one inmate, Ramesh Kadam (politician) is kept with many under-trial prisoners. He is influencing other inmates and forming a group in jail."

The report also states that there is a lack of sufficient jail staff for maintenance, security, and discipline. Further, the prison wall height needs to be raised from the present 15 feet to around 20 to 21 feet. Advocate Uday Warunjikar, appearing for petitioner Jan Adalat, a legal-aid organisation, in a public interest litigation on poor living conditions in prisons, argued: "An earlier report mentioned that a person can easily enter the prison from an adjoining building as the wall height is low. This is yet to be corrected."