Pallavi Purkayastha murder: Guard who got life term jumps parole

Police inspector Mahesh Tawde, who investigated the murder, said Mughal was granted parole in February this year.

“I am not sure of the exact date of his release on parole, but he was supposed to report back to the jail on May 28. Now that it is going to be a month since he has not returned, the jail authorities believe that he has jumped parole,” Tawde told The Indian Express.

[related-post]

Watch Video: What’s making news

He said that given the nature of Mughal’s crime, and the consequent punishment awarded to him, the jail authorities should have taken his opinion before granting him reprieve.

“This is the subject of the jail authorities. I learnt about the development when Pallavi’s father inquired with me and I, in turn, checked with the jail’s parole department and they informed about the incident,” he said.

Tawde said a complaint has been lodged by the prison authorities.

Pallavi’s father Atanu Purkayastha, who moved an appeal seeking the death penalty for Mughal in October 2014, said, “This makes a complete mockery of the judiciary, which awarded such a serious punishment.”

Tawde insisted that it was a fit case to launch a manhunt to track down Mughal.

Calls to Nashik central prison’s Superintendent Ramesh Kamble remained unanswered.