In a significant security breach, authorities at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad have recovered two mobile phones and other electronic items from the high-security cell of a convicted gangster. The incident has led to the filing of a fresh First Information Report (FIR) against the inmate.
Contraband Found in Concealed Cache
The recovery was made from the cell of Vishal Rameshwarpuri Goswami, a gangster serving a 21-year sentence. According to the FIR, prison staff conducted a routine check in the high-security zone on the evening of January 6. Goswami's suspicious movements and a broken section of the cement ply sheet on his cell's roof raised alarms.
Since the damaged area was out of reach, Goswami was moved to another cell temporarily. The next day, on January 7, staff used a ladder for a thorough inspection. They discovered a hole in the roof containing a plastic box tied to a stick. Inside the box, officials found an Apple iPhone without a SIM card, a Lava Hero phone with a Vi SIM card, a broken Airtel SIM card, an iPhone charging cable, and an assembled charger.
Legal Action and Criminal Background
Based on a complaint by a prison staffer, an FIR was registered at the Ranip police station on Wednesday night. Goswami has been booked under Sections 42, 43, and 45(12) of the Prisons Act. Additionally, he faces charges under BNS Section 223 for disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant.
Goswami is a notorious figure in Gujarat's criminal landscape. In 2023, an Ahmedabad court sentenced him to 21 years in prison after convicting him for extortion, attempted murder, and other serious offences. Notably, Goswami and his gang were the first to be booked under the stringent Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GujCTOC) Act in January 2020.
Security Implications and Investigation
This recovery points to a major lapse within the high-security precincts of one of Gujarat's most important prisons. The method of concealment inside a roof cavity indicates planning and possible collusion. The presence of mobile phones in a prisoner's possession, especially one convicted under a tough anti-organised crime law, raises serious concerns about ongoing illicit communications and potential coordination of criminal activities from behind bars.
The investigation by Ranip police is now underway to determine how the contraband was smuggled into the jail and who might have assisted Goswami. The incident is likely to trigger an internal security audit at Sabarmati Central Jail.
