Jailors may get a rap

The Lokayukta is furious that they took a convict-doctor's advice to help bribe-taking MLA Sampangi

Jailors may get a rap

The Lokayukta is furious that they took a convict-doctor's advice to help bribe-taking MLA Sampangi

After he was caught by the Lokayukta when he was allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 5 lakh, Sampangi did not serve a single day in jail. He got away on medical grounds.

Sick: Disgraced MLA Sampangiu00a0 hopped from hospital to hospital to avoid doing time

The doctor-convict said Sampangi was suffering from a heart problem, and the jail authorities promptly moved him out of jail and into a cardiology institute.u00a0 The hospital found him in fine shape.

"When a prison doctor is supposed to be present and do the checking, why did the jailors take the advice of a convict?" asked Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde.

The corruption watchdog has filed a charge sheet against the MLA. "We expect progress by the end of the month provided there are no adjournment demands from the other side," said Hegde.

When a prisoner is not well, every jail has an in-house doctor to look into the problem. But, if the doctor is not present, then a government doctor is called.

If even that is not possible, the prison authorities can take the prisoner to hospital. But, in this case, the prison authorities flouted the rules.u00a0u00a0

A senior High Court lawyer agrees the jailors did not go by the book. "This is illegal," he said. "It calls for an inquiry."

Jail Minister Umesh Katti said, "I am not aware of this issue." He added he would hold the jailors responsible if they had flouted the rules.

Hegde said he would take up the issue of the jailors' lapse "when the need arises"

Who is Sampangi?
Y Sampangi is the state's first public representative to be caught "red-handed" by the Lokayukta while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh at the Legislator's Home on January 29 this year.

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