The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued stern remarks against Yerwada Central Prison authorities after they failed to respond to a complaint filed by a 50-year-old inmate, Anil Tukaram Mohite, alleging custodial ill-treatment. The commission, in its recent order, stated that since the accused prison authorities had not cooperated or submitted any reply, the commission would initiate its own investigation into the matter.
The SHRC has directed the Superintendent of Police, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, to personally conduct a fact-finding inquiry. This includes recording the statement of the complainant, Anil Tukaram Mohite, as well as statements of witnesses named by him.
“It appears that the prison authorities are not interested in assisting the Commission in deciding the instant complaint of ill-treatment to prisoner Anil Tukaram Mohite. In such a situation, the Commission has taken the task of investigating the complaint upon itself,” the SHRC order stated.
The Superintendent of Police has also been directed to obtain CCTV footage from the area of the prison where Mohite was allegedly assaulted by jail officers and staff. All relevant and actionable material gathered during the inquiry must be compiled and submitted to the Commission, along with supporting evidence, by the next date of hearing.
The matter has been adjourned to August 12 for further compliance. The Commission has also directed the Additional Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Services), Pune, to file a personal affidavit confirming compliance with the order. Failure to do so will result in the Commission taking appropriate legal action.
The complaint was filed by Advocate Shabbir Nilgar on behalf of Anil Mohite, who has been lodged in Yerwada Central Prison since 2022 under charges of attempt to murder and is booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
As per the complaint, Mohite was moved to Security Department 1 in May 2024 for protection, but he soon began facing severe harassment. The complaint names Jail Officer Ravindra Gaikwad, who allegedly told Mohite that he was placed in a “VIP cell” and must “pay attention” to him. Gaikwad allegedly demanded a lump sum of Rs 1 lakh and a monthly payment of Rs 20,000, threatening consequences if the money was not paid.
Further, under Gaikwad’s alleged instructions, another officer, Atul Yamaji Tuvar, is accused of humiliating Mohite in front of others, delaying family visits, and obstructing meetings with his legal counsel.
The most serious allegation in the complaint refers to a brutal assault on January 15, 2025. Mohite alleges that after other inmates were locked up, he was taken alone to “Gandhi Yard,” where he was assaulted by Gaikwad, Tuvar, and constables identified as Kulkarni, Jagtap, and Khilare. “They beat me with belts and demanded Rs 2 lakh as a lump sum and Rs 50,000 monthly. They threatened to kill me and frame it as an internal gang fight,” Mohite claimed in his complaint.
He further alleged that his thumbprints and signatures were forcibly taken on blank sheets of paper. Fearing for his life, the inmate has pleaded with the Human Rights Commission to conduct an independent inquiry and ensure his safety.
