Surat: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has launched an investigation into an alleged racket that arranged meetings with inmates at Lajpore Central Jail (LCJ) by bypassing official procedures in exchange for payments as low as Rs 500. Investigators said the accused had previously been caught in a similar offence earlier.The ACB on Friday arrested 35-year-old Pratik Kailash Sasa for allegedly accepting Rs 500 from a decoy complainant to facilitate a jail meeting without following the mandatory procedure. Sasa, who runs a roadside egg cart, allegedly charged between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to arrange such meetings. Acting on the complaint, the ACB laid a trap and nabbed Sasa while allegedly accepting the bribe. During the operation, officials also recovered Rs 51,500 from his possession.According to investigators, Sasa entered LCJ and allegedly used contacts inside the prison to secure inmate meetings without the required paperwork. An officer associated with the probe said Sasa did not use a mobile phone, apparently to avoid electronic surveillance.Police Inspector S D Dhobi said, the ACB has sought CCTV footage from inside the jail to trace Sasa’s movements, identify contact points and uncover possible accomplices. Statements of LCJ staff will also be recorded, as investigators believe the racket could not have operated without inside assistance.The case has raised questions about security and oversight at LCJ, described as Gujarat’s most high-tech prison. Officials said Sasa had also been arrested by the ACB in Feb last year for allegedly accepting a Rs 1,000 bribe to arrange a similar jail meeting, suggesting the racket continued despite the earlier action.
