In bail goof-up, Mangaluru jail lets 2 murder accused out

MANGALURU: Mistaking a bail plea for a bail order, Mangaluru District Prison officials let two brothers accused of murder walk free. The overjoyed undertrials returned home to their families, unable to believe their luck and the leniency of the criminal justice system. Their unofficial parole ended in three days though, thanks to their advocate who happened to read the “bail” document.
Shivaji , a resident of Kadri, and Jagadeesh of Bikarnakatte were arrested for the murder of Kadri Rohith Kotian on May 8, 2016. The duo, along with three others, allegedly stabbed Rohith to death over a financial dispute. The killers arrived in an autorickshaw and attacked Rohith as part of a planned operation, police had said.
About a week ago, the district jail received a communique about Shivaji and Jagadeesh. The officials, sources said, did not go through the papers and presumed it was the bail order for the duo. Accordingly, they completed the bail procedure and let the brothers walk out of jail on July 9. Fortunately for the officials, Shivaji and Jagadeesh went home and three days later, met their advocate with their bail documents.
The advocate broke it to them that there was a mistake and called the jail officials and court too. Soon after, the duo were picked up from their homes. District jail superintendent Chandan Patel admitted the duo were let off by mistake. He said the jail had received a bail document which was to be signed by the two undertrials and sent back to further their bail application.
Two jail staff behind goof-up to face action
However, officials believed that it was the bail order itself. “Once we realised there had been a mistake, we went to their homes and they agreed to return to prison. There would have been more trouble had they absconded,” Patel said. He, however, claimed that the undertrials were brought back in one day.
Two jail staff responsible for the goof-up will face departmental action, authorities said. Patel, a probationary officer, took charge of the prison six months ago and has been hailed for bring about various changes in the jail. The prison currently has 338 inmates, including eight women, though its capacity is 210. A new jail is planned at Mudipu.
Murder in jail four years ago
In November 2015, `the district jail made headlines after two inmates were killed in a group clash. Five henchmen of Akashbhavan Sharan, lodged as undertrials, attacked Madoor Isubu and Ganesh Shetty with sharp-edged weapons when the duo was outside their perimeter block and killed them.
Isubu and Ganesh were with Chhota Shakeel, a rival of Sharan’s associate, fugitive undwerworld operative Vikki Shetty.