Mumbai: The special MCOCA court issued a show-cause notice to the superintendent of Mumbai Central Prison, popularly known as Arthur Road Jail, for contempt proceedings regarding the complaint of reducing the sleeping space of the inmates by two inches.
Ramdas Rahane, who was booked by the anti-extortion cell for his involvement in the Dawood Ibrahim gang and over allegations of extortion in 2017, had complained to the court last month that the sleeping space of the inmates had been further reduced by the prison authorities. He requested sufficient space for sleeping due to his heart disease. Alternatively, he also requested to be shifted to another barrack. The court had called for the report from the authorities last month.
Reduced space due to overcrowding
It was claimed that Rahane was lodged in barrack number 6(4), where the authorities stated there was an increase in the number of inmates. Following this, internal arrangements were made, and the space was reduced by only two inches. It is claimed that an inmate gets 2.6 feet to sleep in a barrack. However, due to overcrowding, the space had to be reduced.
In its order dated October 4, the court had asked the prison authorities not to reduce the space and, if possible, to shift Rahane to another barrack.
The prison authorities offered Rahane to shift to Barrack 1, which he refused. His lawyer, Farhana Shah, contended that "there are other gangsters related to D-Company of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar in barrack number 1, and Rahane would come in contact with them if he is shifted to barrack number 1. He will be unnecessarily implicated in other cases along with members of D-Company. Hence, he urged that he not be shifted to barrack number1."
Rahane approached court again
After hearing both sides, the court, in its order on October 7, observed, "Considering his health and heart ailment, the jail authority is directed to give him sufficient space for sleeping, which was available to him before the reduction of sleeping space."
On Tuesday, Rahane again approached the special court against the prison authorities for not complying with the order and not providing proper sleeping space. In response to this plea, his lawyer Shah stated that the court has issued a show-cause notice to the prison authority.
