Nashik: Constables suspended after going on a lunch date with prisoners

Three police personnel of the Nashik Central Prison were suspended for having taken an inmate of the prison out for food and drinks.

The constables - Pramod Jadhav, Sagar Bodhle and Rahul Dhondge - were suspended on grounds of misconduct and now stand to lose their jobs. The constables took the prisoner out for lunch after a court hearing.

The inmate, Sameer Pathan, is a resident of the Cidco area. He has at least 36 cases of murder, attempt to murder, theft, dacoity and body offences registered against him at Sarkarwada, Indiranagar, Bhadrakali, Ambad and Nashik Road police stations.

"Sameer Pathan, currently in judicial custody at the Nashik Central Prison, was produced before a local court in May in connection with an ongoing case. After the hearing got over, the police vehicle in which the prisoner had arrived at the court remained parked on the jail premises. Pathan and the constables got into a private vehicle and allegedly went to Trimbakeshwar road and later to Sinnar. They consumed alcohol and had lunch after which they returned to the prison in the police van around 7pm," the Times of India quoted a senior police official as saying.

"When asked about the delay, the policemen said the van had broken down and took time to be repaired. An inquiry was held and preliminary investigations showed that the four had gone out for lunch," the official told the daily.

According to the TOI, the probe has revealed that a known criminal, Ganesh Suresh Wagh alias Ganya Kavlya, joined the team for lunch. Deputy commissioner of police Vijay Patil has said that a detailed departmental inquiry has been initiated in the matter.