MUMBAI: Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday ordered a probe into the complaints that Taloja jail authorities refused to accept a package containing spectacles for 70-year-old activist Gautam Navlakha who is an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case.
Deshmukh said “BhimaKoregaon case accused Navlakha (was) denied spectacles by jail authorities as they refused to accept (a) parcel sent by his family. I have ordered an inquiry into this matter.”
Deshmukh said on social media. He also said that such situations should be handled humanely, and such incidents need to be avoided in future. “If the family has sent his spectacles, he should be given those. We need to handle these things more sensitively,” said Deshmukh.
Navlakha’s spectacles had been stolen from jail and he needed a new pair, his family had said. Earlier this week, Bombay high court had also taken note that jail authorities were refusing to accept a package sent by Navlakha’s family. The court noted that “humanity is most important” and also emphasised on the need to sensitise prison staff.