Self-proclaimed tantrik, Mehandi Kasim Shaikh alias Sex Baba alias Bengali Baba, who is lodged in Arthur Road Jail, was caught smuggling in `2 lakh in his slippers while entering the jail after a sessions court hearing. It is officially still unclear why Shaikh was taking inside such a huge amount, but sources claim inmates get “services” in exchange for cash inside jails. The 49-year-old Shaikh made headlines in 2010 when he was arrested for raping seven women, including minors.
According to Arthur Road Jail officials, Bangladeshi national Shaikh, who was lodged in Barrack 6 after the JJ Marg police nabbed him on November 28, 2010 in a rape case, was recently taken to the sessions court for hearing in the matter. After court proceedings, he was escorted back to Arthur Road Jail. “While entering the jail, alert security guards spotted unusually thick slippers in Shaikh’s feet and raised doubts. They stopped him and asked Shaikh to take off his footwear. The slippers had stitches on its sides and when they were cut off, cash worth `1 lakh each was found in the cavities made in each of the slippers,” said Vinod Lokhande, inspector general of police (jail-south region).
Mr Lokhande added, “We have seized the cash and slippers after doing a punchnama and reported the same to the court where his matter is being heard. We suspect his family may have given him the cash while he was out of jail for the hearing.”
“During the probe, Shaikh said that he wanted to give the cash to his lawyer and that’s why he was taking it inside, but we are not buying his claims,” said V.D. Burkule, superintendent of Arthur Road Jail.
Mr Lokhande further added, “An internal inquiry has been initiated and the report has not yet come to me.”
Sources said that inside jails, inmates can get facilities like cellphones to call their family, desired food items, longer meeting hours with visitors, etc.