Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Monday directed its registry to register a suo motu contempt plea against Central Jail superintendent Anup Kumre for not complying with its orders.
A division bench comprising justices Zaka Haq and Amit Borkar appointed Firdos Mirza as amicus curiae to draft the case.
On Friday, the bench had reserved the order in the CBI’s case seeking custody of the accused, Ravishekhar Londekar, related to some offences.
After CBI arrested him, his relatives had knocked HC’s doors through counsel Shreerang Bhandarkar assisted by Saurabh Bhende for his release. The same bench then ordered accused’s release on bail on furnishing a PR bond of Rs50,000 and one solvent surety of Rs20,000.
However, Kumre and other jail officials didn't release the accused citing prison manual rules that no prisoner can be released after 5pm. They also told his relatives to bring the sessions court order in the case.
After the HC was informed in this regard, the judges summoned Kumre on February 3 with an explanation on why the accused wasn’t released despite its specific orders. He was again called the next day to reply in detail. He was also told to inform about rules that prohibit the release of jail inmates after 5pm.
After Kumre failed to reply satisfactorily and also changed his statements, he was slammed by the judges with a warning that they may institute an inquiry against him under a retired HC judge.