In an unusual twist, a dispute among inmates at Taloja Central Jail in Mumbai suburbs brought allegations of corruption and preferential treatment to the forefront. According to recent reports, prisoners are clashing over perceived food discrimination, with accusations that VIP inmates were receiving lavish meals while others were left out.
Surendra Gadling, a prisoner facing charges in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, lodged a formal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Thane. Gadling’s grievance focused on allegations that certain inmates, deemed VIPs, were being served high-end meals such as chicken and mutton at exorbitant prices, a practice he claims involved bribery and favouritism.
The complaint detailed a menu of luxurious items available exclusively to these VIP prisoners. The alleged prices include:
- Fried Chicken: Rs 2,000
- Hyderabadi Biryani: Rs 1,500
- Schezwan Rice: Rs 500
- Shrimp Biryani: Rs 2,000
- Chicken Masala: Rs 1,000
- Chicken Manchurian: Rs 1,500
- Chilli Chicken: Rs 1,500
- Mutton Masala: Rs 8,000
- Mutton Curry: Rs 7,000
- Vegetarian Manchurian: Rs 1,000
- Veg Biryani: Rs 1,000
- Egg Biryani: Rs 500
- Special Veg Pakora: Rs 1,000
The complaint alleged that these rates were applied exclusively to VIP inmates, creating a stark contrast with the food available to the general prison population. This disparity fueled tensions and accusations of corruption within the jail. Taloja Jail, which houses several high-profile inmates including MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, is under scrutiny for these alleged practices.
The allegations also included claims that jail officer Sunil Patil and other officials were implicated in this preferential treatment scheme, which reportedly took place during a specific timeframe between 5:30 am and 6:30 am.
Following Gadling’s complaint, there has been significant uproar, with calls for an investigation into the matter and a review of practices at the jail.
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