Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 27: The admission block of Colvale Central Jail, which is meant to function as a tightly regulated holding area for newly admitted inmates, has come under fresh scrutiny following allegations of increased inmate movement, extended gate-opening hours and preparations for a birthday celebration inside the facility.

The admission block is intended to serve as a controlled gateway for newly arrested accused persons before they are shifted to their designated prison blocks. Sources said the block currently houses around 80 inmates, most of them accused persons who are brought there after completing police custody or after being remanded directly to judicial custody.

As per the established procedure, newly admitted inmates are generally kept in the admission block for around 15 to 20 days before being transferred to their designated blocks.

The block has in recent months also housed several high-profile inmates, including Birch by Romeo Lane owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, former Tehelka editor-in-chief and convicted sexual offender Tarun Tejpal, and Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala.

The Luthra brothers were returned to Colvale Central Jail after surrendering before a Mapusa court on September 14 following the cancellation of their bail. They subsequently moved fresh bail applications before the Sessions Court.

Atala, meanwhile, surrendered before the North Goa Sessions Court on September 16 and was remanded to 30 days of judicial custody in a narcotics case before being taken to Colvale Jail.

According to official sources cited by The Goan, the latest alleged changes in the admission block coincided with the arrival of new inmates. Sources claimed that senior officials were either unaware of the developments or had not intervened.

One of the latest allegations concerns a birthday celebration reportedly planned inside the admission block on September 27. Sources claimed that an unusually large quantity of uncooked non-vegetarian food had been kept aside for the event.

“The mess maintains a daily stock and non-vegetarian food is served on specified days. Chicken is normally brought once in 15 days. But when it was brought this Wednesday, additional stock was already kept aside for the birthday celebration on Sunday,” sources were quoted as saying.

Sources further alleged that the established schedule for opening and securing the admission block's gates was no longer being strictly followed.

Under the usual routine, breakfast is served at around 6 am, following which the gates are opened briefly. They are subsequently opened for around two hours from 8 am, around lunchtime and again between 3 pm and 6 pm.

However, sources alleged that in recent days the gates have remained open for considerably longer periods. According to the allegations, once the gates are opened at around 6 am, they are sometimes hardly closed, with the block remaining accessible until around 7 pm or later instead of being secured by the prescribed 6 pm deadline.

The latest allegations come against the backdrop of a series of reports concerning alleged irregularities and preferential treatment at Colvale Central Jail.

Earlier reports alleged that inmates could obtain specially prepared food at prices far above normal rates, including tandoori or gravy preparations allegedly costing around Rs 7,000, fried rice around Rs 1,000, fish around Rs 500 and eight pieces of chicken around Rs 4,000. Sources also alleged that government-supplied provisions such as sugar, flour and vegetables were being diverted into an informal internal food trade.

Further allegations claimed that fruits purchased with government funds for inmates were being diverted to prepare fruit wine inside the prison. A complaint submitted to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary also alleged that the prison canteen was being used as a channel for alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other prohibited substances.

Electronic devices have also figured in the allegations. Sources claimed that television sets with connections were available in some cells and that around Rs 15,000 was allegedly being collected to facilitate the entry of a television, apart from the cost of the device itself.

The use and entry of mobile phones at the jail have previously drawn the attention of the Bombay High Court at Goa. Reports said 48 mobile phones were recovered during an internal raid in early 2026, while around 161 handsets had been seized from the prison between 2017 and May 2025. The jail was also yet to receive the mobile-jamming system sought by the court, according to a report published in August.

The allegations have already prompted government action. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said in August that he had directed the Director General of Police to conduct a detailed inquiry into alleged irregularities at Colvale Central Jail and submit a report. He also said supervision had been tightened, with police officers at the SP level directly overseeing operations after the facility was placed under the Police Department.

The Goa Congress had separately sought an independent and time-bound inquiry into the alleged informal food business and cash economy at the jail, calling for scrutiny of CCTV footage, gate-entry records, visitor registers, kitchen and mess records, ration registers and procurement documents.

The Prisons Department has not publicly responded to the latest allegations concerning the admission block and the reported birthday preparations. The allegations remain subject to verification and the outcome of the government-ordered inquiry.