PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued a stinging reprimand to the Prison Department following revelations that an undertrial, accused of murdering a 12-year-old boy, made a threatening phone call to the complainant from Colvale Central Jail.
A Bench of Justice Shriram Sirsat has directed the Deputy Superintendent of Prisons to submit a comprehensive status report by January 20. The report must detail the implementation of long-pending security measures, including mobile jammers, enhanced CCTV coverage, cellular inspection systems, and stricter monitoring to curb the smuggling of phones, chargers, and contraband.
The accused, Chandu Patil, is currently facing trial for the alleged murder of Sameer, the younger brother of his colleague Harshad Ali. The incident occurred in Bicholim on September 21, 2024, reportedly after Patil lost his job.
The security breach came to light during proceedings in the Children’s Court, when Harshad informed the President that Patil had phoned him from prison, questioned him about the case and issued veiled threats. He also provided the mobile number, date, and time of the call, prompting the court to order an immediate investigation.
Prison authorities subsequently admitted that a mobile phone was seized from Patil’s cell and a show-cause notice had been issued. While Patil claimed his prison privileges were later withdrawn, his bail plea was rejected. Patil then challenged the order before the High Court, during which the Bench uncovered a broader scale of irregularities, including the existence of illicit charging points and easy access to devices.
The Bench observed that such systemic lapses pose a direct threat to the safety of victims and the integrity of witness testimony, while directing the prison officer to submit the report.
