An undertrial prisoner was discovered with a mobile phone hidden in his footwear at Thane Central Jail in Maharashtra, police said on Thursday.
The incident was uncovered on December 30, 2024, during a routine inspection of barrack number 3 in the new section of the prison, which houses approximately 200 inmates, as explained by an official from the Thane Nagar police station.
During the inspection, a jail sepoy noticed one of the sandals belonging to the prisoner, Hemant Parasmal Sethia (38), on the ground, while the other was missing. After further searching, the missing sandal was located nearby but felt unusually heavy, the official stated.
Upon examination, the sepoy discovered a mobile phone with a broken screen concealed inside the sandal. The phone bore distinct markings that identified it as belonging to Sethia.
A case has been filed against the prisoner under applicable laws, and an investigation is underway to determine how he managed to smuggle the mobile phone into the barrack. According to the official, Sethia has been in custody since September 30, 2023, following his arrest in a criminal case registered with the Kashimira police.
In a seperate case, during a recent search operation at Ferozepur Central Jail, authorities seized eight mobile phones and 103 packets of tobacco. Following a complaint from the assistant jail superintendent, a case has been filed under Sections 42 and 52A of the Prisons Act, and police are investigating to identify those responsible for the contraband supply.
According to police, a total of 473 mobile phones had been confiscated this year, which includes four keypads and four touchscreens from the latest recovery, amid other prohibited items. Monthly statistics indicate a troubling trend of substantial recoveries, with January alone accounting for 71 seized items.
Officials attribute the ongoing issue of contraband smuggling to inadequate entry checks and insufficient monitoring practices, allowing items to be thrown over the prison walls. The jail’s location in a densely populated urban area exacerbates the situation.
Insiders report that packets containing mobile phones and intoxicants are often tossed into the facility, taking advantage of existing security weaknesses. A former jail official commented on the detrimental effects of unrestricted phone access on the purpose of incarceration, stating that “the availability of phones inside the prison defeats the purpose of punishment” and suggesting that any phone system should include proper monitoring to prevent illegal activities.
A security officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized the need for “advanced screening technologies, enhanced surveillance systems, stricter visitation policies, restricted paroles for inmates caught with contraband, and data-driven analysis to identify smuggling patterns” to effectively tackle this persistent issue.
Ferozepur Jail Superintendent Satnam Singh acknowledged the difficulties posed by the jail’s urban surroundings, but he affirmed that efforts are ongoing to combat the influx of contraband. Singh remarked, “Being situated in a densely populated area makes it a daunting task to prevent contraband from being thrown into the premises. However, we are making every effort to tackle the issue”.