Pune Police Officer Suspended In Connection With Drug Smuggler’s Escape
Pune, 27th October 2023: Assistant Police Inspector Savita Hanumant Bhagwat, serving with Pune Police, has been suspended in connection with the escape of drug smuggler Lalit Patil from Sassoon Hospital. This incident follows the suspension of nine policemen, including two officers, earlier in connection with the case.
Pune Police Commissioner Retesh Kumaarr and Joint Commissioner Sandeep Karnik have attributed the escape to negligence and irresponsibility in duty. Lalit Patil managed to flee legal custody on September 30, allegedly meeting an unidentified person after Assistant Inspector Savita Bhagwat was absent from her supervisory duty in Ward No. 16 of Sassoon Hospital.
Savita Bhagwat, posted in the Court Company Unit of Police Headquarters, was assigned the role of Supervisory Officer for the day shift from 09:00 am to 09:00 pm on the fateful day. Her responsibility included conducting a thorough search of the detained accused admitted for treatment.
However, it has been reported that Bhagwat left her duty at 13:30 pm, half an hour into her shift, when she was required to stay on duty for the entire duration. Additionally, it is noted that she only spent half an hour in Ward No. 16 during her full-day duty.
The order of suspension, issued by Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik, cites negligence in duty as the reason behind Bhagwat’s suspension. The crime branch has discovered two iPhones in possession of the escaped accused Lalit Patil, leading to further scrutiny of the police’s role in the escape.
The investigation has revealed that due to a lack of proper supervision by the police guard in Ward No. 16 of Sassoon Hospital, a person was able to meet the accused Lalit Patil with a black-colored bag. This lapse in duty, according to the order, provided Patil with the opportunity to escape custody.
A case has been registered at Bundgarden police station in connection with this incident. The order issued by Joint Commissioner Karnik states that Bhagwat is suspended from government service due to irresponsible, careless, and negligent misconduct in duty.
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