PANAJI
As the Prisons Department intensified its probe into the alleged smuggling of drugs and other contraband inside Colvale jail, fresh revelations have exposed a well-organised network allegedly involving suspended Deputy Superintendent Krishna Usgaonkar, Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) Suraj Toraskar, and two other police personnel.
Officials are investigating how narcotics worth lakhs were trafficked into the “State-of-the-art modern jail,” allegedly with the involvement of selected jail staff and police personnel.
Reliable sources told The Goan that a raid by the IRB on January 31 led to the seizure of narcotics worth approximately Rs 15 lakh, along with large quantities of banned tobacco and other contraband.
This prompted separate inquiries by the Prisons Department and Goa Police with the preliminary findings revealing a long-running operation in which certain officials smuggled drugs into the prison, allegedly in collusion with drug peddlers and criminal syndicates operating outside.
All four including a probationary constable have been suspended pending a detailed enquiry.
“We suspect that some officials pocketed up to Rs 5 lakh per smuggling attempt. They used the female inmates’ block, which is often subjected to minimal checks, to smuggle drugs. In many cases, even female jail staff are suspected of misusing this leniency. This has been happening for quite some time and it has also been confessed by some staff in their deposition during the inquiry,” a senior official revealed.
In 2019, Usgaonkar, then serving as jailor of the Colvale jail, along with Assistant Jailor Ankush Madkaikar and Jail Guard Keshav Gawas were suspended for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of 67 mobile phones, around 1 kg of narcotic substances suspected to be ganja and 200 beedi packets.
Earlier, in 2015, Usgaonkar and a few guards were suspended over allegations of assaulting around 50 inmates, including nine foreigners. They were however reinstated thereafter.
With the racket now under scrutiny, prison officials are also examining digital payment trails, social media interactions and call records of jail staff. The Goan tried contacting Inspector General of Prisons Omvir Singh, however, he remained unavailable for comments.
