Akola: A 40-year-old undertrial lodged in the Akola Central Jail allegedly died by suicide after jumping into a well on the prison premises on Thursday. The incident raised questions over inmate monitoring and mental health care within the jail.The deceased, Anil Omkar Nimbokar, 40, a resident of Gajanan Nagar, Yawalkhed, Akola, was remanded to judicial custody on April 11, 2026, in connection with the alleged murder of his wife.As per jail authorities, Nimbokar was assigned agricultural work inside the jail campus along with other prisoners on Thursday morning. After some time, he was found missing. A prison staffer discovered his body inside a well in the prison farm area. Preliminary findings indicate that he allegedly jumped into the well.The prison’s medical officer, Dr Lalitkumar Agar Chavan, declared Nimbokar dead after examination. An inquest panchnama, post-mortem examination and other legal formalities were initiated.Akola Central Jail Superintendent Dattatraya Gawde told TOI that after the incident involving his wife, Nimbokar attempted suicide by consuming poison and was under mental stress.“While working on the prison farm, he told the staff that he was going to fetch water from the well. When he did not return for a long time, the staff searched the area and found he had jumped into the well,” Gawde said.Family members and observers questioned why an inmate who was reportedly known to be under psychological stress and had allegedly attempted suicide earlier was not kept under closer watch. They argued that prisoners with a history of self-harm require continuous monitoring, counselling and regular assessment by mental health professionals.In May 2026, two inmates of the Akola jail died within a span of 48 hours after their health reportedly deteriorated suddenly.City Kotwali Police Station has registered an accidental death (AD) case. Police Inspector Sanjay Gawai told TOI that investigation is being conducted to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the inmate’s death and whether there was any negligence or other factors behind the incident.Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report, which is expected to throw more light on the cause of death, while the police investigation continues.
