Jail to keep Saji safe

CHANDIGARH: It is never safe for a law enforcer out there. But it gets doubly dangerous when such an official gets lodged in a jail where he helped put crime accused. Disgraced IPS officer and former Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director Saji Mohan will be faced with such a situation when he is brought to the Burail Model Jail for appearing at district court here.He will be tried for a case regarding embezzlement of NCB funds. Prison authorities are taking extreme care so that his stay is safe.
Officials said they had six prisoners arrested by the Saji Mohan-led NCB team there.
Currently, he is lodged in the Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai, where UT police sent production warrants for February 24.
Economic offences wing (EOW) is expected to push for his custody when he is brought here. After his custody ends, Saji will be put in Burail jail till his next hearing in Mumbai. A court there had sent Saji to 14-day judicial remand on February 20. Police here also intend to ask him about his report that named six UT cops as involved in a drug nexus.
The role of a UT DSP and a city-based journalist in that episode will also be looked into, as Mumbai ATS had named them in its report.
He will be given jail���s B-class treatment and put in a separate barrack for his security, said sources.
B-class facilities allow prisoners to access reading material. They are given furniture and better bedding also, said Burail jail AIG Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa. At present, there are many convicts who have the same facilities. Jail authorities said similar provisions existed for undertrials as well.
Saji Mohan would be the first IPS officer to be lodged in the jail. He has had a love-hate relationship with the jail���s staff. He had alleged that one of the persons he caught - Raju - was conducting illegal operations from the prison.
Source said he had a verbal duel with the jail officials when they refused him a meeting with accused Israeli national Lior Avi Ben Moyal before Saji left for his posting at Enforcement Directorate.