The officials on Monday said that Gangster Suresh Pujari had allegedly been manhandled during a scuffle between two groups of inmates inside the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, reported news agency PTI.
No one was injured in the incident which took place in the central prison last week, they said.
The police have registered a case against seven persons, including Pujari, for indulging in the fight, the officials said, reported PTI.
The incident occurred on July 6 after a heated argument over an inmate spreading his legs when a prisoner from another group was passing through an area in a barrack, an official said.
As it was creating a hurdle in walking, the prisoner objected, following which the person who had spread his legs abused the former. This led to a scuffle between the two groups, he said, reported PTI.
Pujari, who is lodged in the same barrack, and some of his associates also got involved in the scuffle. The gangster was allegedly manhandled by four inmates, the official said, reported PTI.
Pujari had tried to intervene, but was beaten up by members of the other group, the official said.
The gangster and his associates also beat up inmates of the other group, he said.
Within a minute of the scuffle, the prison authorities intervened and brought the situation under control, the official said.
Based on complaint filed by the prison authorities, a case has been registered at the N M Joshi Marg police station against seven persons, including Pujari, under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 194 (2) (affray), he said, reported PTI.
Suresh Pujari, a former associate of gangster Ravi Pujari, was deported to India from the Philippines in 2021 after being on the run for several years.
The gangster has more than 50 FIRs of extortion and other offences registered against him at police stations in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane.
The Mumbai Central Prison, also referred to as Arthur Road Jail, was built in 1926, and is Mumbai`s largest and oldest prison. It houses most of the city`s prisoners. It was declared a Central Jail in 1972. Although its name was changed to Mumbai Central Prison, it is still often referred to as Arthur Road Jail.
(With inputs from PTI)
