Pallavi Purkayastha murder case: Jail officer who okayed parole facing probe in similar case

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The two convicts from West Bengal, Ravi Dhiren Ghosh and Nuruddin Islam, had been charged under Sections 16, 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts) and 18 (conspiracy) of the UAPA, and Sections 120 (b) and 489 of the Indian Penal Code. Fake currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination amounting to approximately Rs 3.5 lakh had been seized from them.

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In mid-2015, a signed order by Meeran Borwankar, former additional director general of police (prisons), said the two convicts had been released on furlough despite a government order against it. According to the amended Maharashtra Prison Rules, furlough can’t be granted to convicts in terror-related cases.

While one of them had already jumped furlough after being granted the relief in June 2014, Naik released the other convict in February 2015.

Read | Pallavi Purkayastha murder: Guard who got life term jumps parole

One of them, however, surrendered later, said Ramesh Kamble, the present superintendent of Nashik jail, adding that The local police in West Bengal nabbed the other one after he followed up on the case.

The duo was among the six accused charged with circulating counterfeit currency in the country. It was the first time that a special National Investigation Agency court had applied the provisions of UAPA in such a case.

Vijay Satbir Singh, Principal Secretary (Home), said the file seeking inquiry against Naik was sent for approval to the department concerned last year. “The inquiry officer would know about the status,” he said.

Additional DGP (Prisons) B K Upadhyay said could not elaborate on the status of the inquiry as it was still pending with the state government. “He (Naik) had allowed the duo on furlough and that is why inquiry was proposed. It is pending with the government,” Upadhyay said.

When contacted over phone, Naik told The Indian Express: “I do not wish to say anything about the inquiry. Those two were arrested later.”

In June 2015, Naik was serving as a superintendent in Nashik jail when Mughal, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Mumbai-based lawyer Pallavi Purkayastha, sent his application to him seeking parole. The divisional commissioner concerned, thereafter, acted on Naik’s recommendation and granted parole to Mughal.

Naik vehemently denied any lapse on his part. “It was a year ago. I am in Amravati now. There were 2,000 people who applied. I do not know who you are talking about,” he said.

As part of the procedure, Naik added, he had sent the application to the divisional commissioner and did nothing wrong. “The authority concerned should have seen and decided accordingly. My job was to send it as there is no provision that says I cannot send it. If I get an application, I have to forward it,” he asserted.

Kamble, on the other hand, said he received 30-35 applications for parole or furlough in a week on an average. “Every story is different, but we do not have the option to see it. All that the application mentions are the charges and the sentence.”

Kamble said he had spoken to the superintendent of police in Baramulla, and that the latter had promised to nab Mughal soon. “It is the convict’s psyche that makes him extend his legally permissible relief. On several occasions they come back. And I am sure he (Mughal) will either come back or we will nab him soon,” he stressed.