Four police personnel suspended after ganja found on inmate during re-lodging at Tiruchi prison

Four police personnel were placed under suspension after prison officials found ganja concealed in the body of an undertrial prisoner during re-lodging at the Central Prison, Tiruchi, on Saturday, exposing alleged lapses during escort duty.

The undertrial prisoner, identified as Vasanthakumar alias Kumbakudi Vasanth, had been lodged in the prison since January 8 in connection with a theft case registered at the Navalpattu police station under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police said.

On February 4, he was taken along with three other accused — Shiek Dawood, Ruban, and Venkadesan — from the prison to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Tiruchi, by personnel of the Tiruchi City Armed Reserve (AR). After completion of the court proceedings, the accused were brought back to the prison in the evening.

During routine checks at the time of re-lodging, prison officials detected that Vasanthakumar had allegedly concealed about 12 grams of ganja in his rectum. The contraband was seized following prescribed procedures, police said.

Based on a complaint from prison authorities, a case was registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Prison Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Meanwhile, departmental action was initiated against four police personnel who were part of the escort team. They were placed under suspension pending a detailed inquiry into alleged lapses during the prisoner’s movement between the prison and the court.

Senior police officials said an investigation was under way to ascertain how the contraband was smuggled despite security protocols, and further action would be taken based on the findings.