Fried chicken for Rs 2,000, Hyderabadi-Muradabadi biryani for Rs 1,500, Schezwan rice for Rs 500, prawns biryani for Rs 2,000, mutton masala for Rs 8,000, and mutton curry for Rs 7,000. 

This may sound like an egregiously overpriced menu of a five-star hotel, but these are prices per kilogram offered allegedly through VIP canteen services for wealthy prisoners lodged at Maharashtra’s Taloja central prison. 

And these featured in a complaint sent to the state anti-corruption bureau on July 30 by Koregaon-Bhima case accused and human rights lawyer Surendra Gadling, who has accused senior jailor Sunil Patil of corruption in food services. Gadling has claimed that ordinary inmates have been affected by poor food quality as authorities allegedly siphon off rations to pamper the influential in return for bribes. Bribes that are paid in cash – either smuggled inside or paid to police staff by middlemen – with jail authorities allegedly pocketing 40 percent of the share.

The complaint comes a month after Bhima Koregaon violence case accused and Kabir Kala Manch activist Sagar Gorkhe wrote to the Navi Mumbai police commissioner and the state human rights commission alleging that officials at the Taloja prison had directed other prisoners to silence them for trying to raise the issue of alleged corruption and “VIP facilities” within the jail. 

Meanwhile, in his complaint to the Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau SP, Gadling also referred to Sagar Gorkhe’s complaint and the alleged threat against raising such issues within the jail premises. 

Gadling, who was arrested in June 2018 and was first lodged in Yerwada jail, then Arthur Road jail and then shifted to Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai in February 2020, sought a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

Sumit Gadling, son of Surendra Gadling and a Nagpur-based high court lawyer, said he will approach the high court to demand an SIT probe.

‘Prisoners in two classes’

Gadling’s complaint claimed prisoners had been divided into two classes. “Prison canteens are supposed to operate on a ‘no profit, no loss’ basis. However, Sunil Patil, the Senior Jailor of Taloja Central Prison who manages the canteen, is involved in corrupt and unethical practices, reaping massive profits from its operations worth crores. He not only earns tainted money but has also divided prisoners into two classes. The rich prisoners, by bribing jail officers, steal from the rations meant for poorer prisoners. Under already stressful jail conditions, the police treat the poor unequally, cutting their facilities to provide for the rich who pay bribes. Those who stand against these corrupt practices face threats and persecution, with the police even turning other prisoners against them.”

Gadling claimed the meals given to other inmates are “unfit for consumption – inedible, tasteless, undercooked, watery, and harmful to health”. “Insects like cockroaches are often found in the food, which inmates must remove before eating. With no safety measures or quality standards maintained by the authorities, prisoners rely on the canteen for snacks and packaged foods like Farsan and chips.”

“The prison canteen serves as a grocery shop where inmates can buy prepared food and snacks. These items are prepared based on prisoner demand, which they must submit in advance through a canteen list circulated every week or 10 days. The canteen in-charge, Sunil Patil, then prepares a work order and procures the necessary materials. However, wealthy and VIP prisoners corner maximum portions of other prisoners because they can pay lakhs in cash.”

“It is pertinent to mention that all this money does not find place in the canteen account or in the canteen list or register but is gulped down by senior jailor Sunil Patil which is worth in crores. The above food items can only be bought in cash and not through PPC-Account (Prisoner's Personal Cash),” the complaint alleged, adding that influential prisoners either smuggle cash inside or pay outside to middlemen involved with the police in this illegal business. “These middlemen are in collusion with the jail police either under pressure, fear, or for illicit gains.”

Among other VIP food items Gadling referred to was chicken manchurian, sold for Rs 1,500, chicken chilly for Rs 1,500, dal gosht for Rs 2,000, vegetarian manchurian for Rs 1,000, vegetarian biryani for Rs 1,000, egg bhurji for Rs 500, and special vegetarian pakoda for Rs 1,000.

‘Records bypassed’

Gadling claimed that VIP prisoners bypass the record-keeping system as police take orders on a rough register or paper sheets without making official entries in the register meant for recording the movement of prisoners and jail staff. “This can be verified by reviewing CCTV footage,” he claimed, adding that the absence of any record of special items can also be verified by CCTV footage.

“In December 2023, I applied for special chicken (which is sold by jail authorities for Rs 2,000 per kg) from my PPC account. Despite my written request, I was denied and told to purchase it in cash. They knew that selling chicken at Rs 2,000 per kilogram was illegal and did not want to have a record of it. This can be verified by checking the CCTV footage of the Anda Cell, Canteen, and BC, as well as the chicken demand list from the Anda Cell.”

Gadling claimed all these sales were divided in a 60:40 ratio. “If a prisoner gives Rs 10,000 in cash to Sunil Patil, his deputed jail police, or an outside agent/middleman, the prisoner would receive only Rs 6,000 worth of goods. The remaining Rs 4,000 goes into Sunil Patil’s pocket, with 10 percent of that amount given to the money collector.”

When Newslaundry reached out to Jalinder Supekar, Special IG, Maharashtra state prison department, he said he was “not aware of it”. “I have to look into the matter.”  

Newslaundry also reached out to ADGP Prisons Pravin Burte to ask about the letter, but he refused to comment on the issue.

Newslaundry also reached out to the Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau SP Sunil Lokhande for a response to Gadling’s complaint. This report will be updated if a response is received.

Correction at 8 pm on August 6: The alleged prices of food items are per kg, not per serving, according to the complaint. This has been corrected.

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