'Tied to suicide case', Maharashtra special IG relieved of additional charge

PUNE: Maharashtra home department Thursday relieved IPS officer and special IG (prisons) Jalindar Supekar of the additional charge of DIG of prisons for the Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur divisions after his name surfaced in the Vaishnavi Hagawane suicide case .

"The post of DIG is important and full of responsibilities in the prisons department. Supekar is being relieved of his additional charge as DIG, considering the importance of these posts," reads the order issued on Thursday by the home department's joint secretary Sugriv Dhapate.

The state government had asked the prisons chief to probe allegations that Supekar was among other prison officials who tried to shield the accused in the dowry harassment and suicide case of 24-year-old Vaishnavi. When contacted, Supekar said, "I do not wish to offer my comments."

Home department has assigned the additional charge of DIG of Nagpur division prison to DIG Swati Sathe (western region, Pune). Aruna Mugutrao , superintendent of Nashik Central Prison , has been given the additional charge of DIG prison for Nashik division. Vaibhav Aage, superintendent of Nagpur Central Prison, has been assigned the additional charge for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division . tnn