Madras HC Directs To Invoke Prevention Of Corruption Act Against Police Officials “Fleecing” Convicts Coming Out On Parole

The Madras High Court recently pulled up the state prison authorities on being intimated that the police officials accompanying the convicts coming out on parole are taking money in the name of charges from the latter’s families. “If it is happening, then it is illegal and it would amount to bribe”, was the strict observation of the bench of Justices R. Kirubakaran and V. M. Hemalatha, hearing a habeas corpus plea to grant ordinary leave for a period of one month without escort to a life convict prisoner at Central Jail, Salem. The Division Bench made clear that if any such incident is brought to the notice of this Court, then not only departmental proceedings would be initiated against the concerned officials but also action under Prevention of Corruption Act would be taken.
Noting that the convicts are already languishing in jail and do not have any source of livelihood and their families are already suffering, the court vented its ire in stating that in spite of the same, these people are “fleecing” the convicts who come out on parole “without any sympathy”.