CM Fadnavis pays surprise visit to Nagpur jail

The Nagpur central jail, which was in the news recently after the escape of five criminals, had a surprise visitor on Monday -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Nagpur central jail, which was in the news recently after the escape of five criminals, had a surprise visitor on Monday -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. While the visit caught the jail officials unawares, it made the minister, who also holds the home portfolio, aware of the lapses in the system.

Fadnavis landed at the Nagpur airport on Monday morning. Instead of directly heading to his official residence, Ramgiri, Fadnavis stopped at the jail, along with divisional commissioner Anoop Kumar and police commissioner SP Yadav. “Just paid a surprise visit to the central jail, Nagpur. A lot still needs to be done. Entire jail administration requires a revamp,” Fadnavis tweeted.

In the recent past, Fadnavis has been attacked by his opponents over the deteriorating law and order situation in Nagpur. Some leaders have also advised him to give up the state home department and get a “full-time” home minister. But Fadnavis had brushed off the comments, claiming the incidents get undue coverage because he represents the constituency in the Assembly.

After the escape of the five men, Fadnavis had ordered an inquiry and formed three teams to find the criminals. He had also shunted out deputy inspector general of police (prisons) Shashikant Shinde and suspended the jail superintendent, Vaibhav Kamble.