Ahmedabad : An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) assigned to escort an undertrial prisoner back to Sabarmati Central Jail after his discharge from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has been booked by Ramol police after the accused escaped during transit in an autorickshaw. The officer, Rajesh Dayaram, allegedly took the prisoner to Vastral instead of proceeding directly to the jail and failed to ensure adequate security during the transfer.
Complainant B D Kotak, an armed police inspector posted at Shahibaug police headquarters, stated that the incident came to light on Oct 29 when the police control room received a message at 7.49pm from an ASI deployed with the Civil Hospital lock-up guard. Acting on the court’s directions, police shifted him to the hospital and lodged him in the F-1 lock-up under police guard. The message claimed that the undertrial had escaped near Meldi Mata temple at Dudheshwar Circle by taking advantage of a traffic jam. During questioning at Madhavpura police station, the officer reportedly stated that the escape took place in Vastral. This contradicted the information initially conveyed to the police control room, which mentioned Dudheshwar Circle as the location. The complaint further alleges that the ASI acted on his own, failed to take additional police personnel along, and did not follow prescribed procedures for transporting an undertrial prisoner. He was required to arrange an official vehicle and adequate police escort for the transfer.
A complaint was registered against both the ASI and the escaped undertrial on Friday.
The prisoner had been admitted to Civil Hospital on Oct 28 after his health deteriorated while he was being taken from Sabarmati Central Jail to a hearing at the City Sessions Court in Bhadra on Oct 27, according to the complaint.