MAPUSA
The Central Jail at Colvale is expected to be highly secured and restricted premises, but 161 mobile phones are among the several prohibited items which have been confiscated from prisoners in the jail over the last eight years.
Believe it or not, the items confiscated from 171 prisoners between 2017 and May 2025 included 161 mobile phones, mobile SIM cards, data cables, chargers, copper wire bundles, earphones, portable speakers, power banks, card readers, bluetooth earphones along with mobile phone accessories, and even a Tata Sky set-top box.
One prisoner was found to be in possession of marijuana and 9 others were found in possession of tobacco products.
These details were provided by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a written reply to a question raised by Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao in the Goa Assembly.
In addition, 11 jail staffers who have been suspended on charges of smuggling prohibited items like drugs, liquor and tobacco into the jail are Jail Deputy Superintendent Krishna Usgaonkar, Jail Warden Yashwant Desai (deceased), Head Warden Pradeep Kambli (retired), Wardens Mahabaleshwar Parulekar, Prakash Gawas, Rama Korgaonkar, Narayan Naik, Vilas Naik, Shambhu Naik, Sameer Mote, and Suraj Gawde.
While an inquiry process is underway against all of them, Deputy Superintendent Krishna Usgaonkar has been reinstated into service.
