Maharashtra's political landscape was shaken when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Suresh Dhas leveled sensational allegations of illegal extortion amounting to ₹300 crore against Jalandhar Supekar, a senior jail official and Inspector General (IG) of Police in the state.
Mumbai: A new and sensational corruption case has emerged in Maharashtra. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has made serious allegations against Jalandhar Supekar, a senior officer in the Jail Department and Inspector General of Police (IG). MLA Dhas claims to have received complaints from several prisoners alleging that IG Supekar demanded a bribe of ₹300 crore.
Suresh Dhas has attempted to bring this matter to the attention of the state government and relevant departments. He has demanded an investigation into the issue, stating that systematic corruption is prevalent within the jail department, leading to the mental and financial exploitation of prisoners.
MLA Dhas's Claim: Massive Extortion from Prisoners
MLA Suresh Dhas, representing Latur district, alleges that he has received complaints from numerous prisoners and their families accusing Jail IG Supekar of establishing a systematized extortion racket. He claims Supekar demanded ₹100,000 in cash and a mobile phone worth ₹50,000 as a "gift" from each prisoner. Dhas asserts this is not a minor instance of corruption but part of a widespread extortion scheme.
He stated, "I have received numerous complaints alleging that large sums of money are extorted from prisoners at Supekar's behest. One complaint specifically mentions extortion of ₹300 crore, which is extremely shocking."
Mention of the Vaishnavi Hagwane Case
MLA Dhas cited the well-known Vaishnavi Hagwane suicide case in Pune, mentioning Supekar's indirect involvement. Dhas questioned Supekar's morality, stating that demanding money from the wife of a relative is morally reprehensible. He claimed that Supekar's close relatives were involved in driving Vaishnavi to suicide.
Supekar's Rebuttal – All Allegations Baseless and Politically Motivated
Jalandhar Supekar vehemently denied MLA Suresh Dhas's allegations, calling them baseless, false, and politically motivated. Speaking to the media, he stated, "The allegations against me are completely unfounded. This is a conspiracy to tarnish my image." Supekar clarified that while he is the uncle of Vaishnavi Hagwane's husband, Shashank, he has no involvement in the case.
It is noteworthy that Supekar was recently relieved of additional charge of Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur jail divisions. While this was presented as an administrative reshuffle, it is now viewed with suspicion following MLA Dhas's allegations. Although Supekar's record as an Inspector General of Police at the Pune headquarters has not been without controversy, this marks the first time an MLA has made such direct and concrete allegations of corruption.
Political Heat, Demand for Investigation Intensifies
This entire matter has created a storm in Maharashtra's political circles. Opposition leaders have demanded an independent inquiry against Supekar. Within the BJP, other leaders have remained silent following Suresh Dhas's statement. MLA Dhas has demanded a special discussion on this issue in the Assembly and an investigation by a legislative committee. He stated, "If a fair investigation is conducted in this matter, the layers of corruption within the jail department will be exposed, and several big names will come to light."
