Mumbai Central Jail: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Building in India}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} |
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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} |
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{{Infobox Prison |
{{Infobox Prison |
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| prison_name = Arthur Road Jail |
| prison_name = Mumbai Central Prison<br>Arthur Road Jail |
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| image = |
| image = |
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| location = [[Mumbai, Maharashtra]], [[India]] |
| location = [[Mumbai, Maharashtra]], [[India]] |
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| coordinates = {{coord|18|59|6.7|N|72|49|47.14|E|region:IN|display=title}} |
| coordinates = {{coord|18|59|6.7|N|72|49|47.14|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}} |
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| status = Open |
| status = Open |
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| classification = Maximum |
| classification = Maximum |
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| capacity = 1074 |
| capacity = 1074 |
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| opened = 1926 |
| opened = {{start date and age|1926}} |
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| closed = |
| closed = |
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| managed_by = |
| managed_by = |
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| director = |
| director = |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
The '''Mumbai Central Prison''', also referred to as '''Arthur Road Jail''', was built in 1926,<ref name=dna>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_time-to-free-mumbai-of-its-overcrowded-prison_1533473 |title=Time to free Mumbai of its overcrowded prison? |author=Mustafa Plumber & Manish K Pathak |date=19 April 2011 |publisher=DNA India |accessdate=25 November 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-18|title=Explained: What's inside Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, and why does it have such a reputation?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mumbais-arthur-road-jail-nirav-modi-vijay-mallya-6600272/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The jail occupies {{convert|2|acres|ha}} of land.<ref name="dna"/> |
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==Location== |
==Location== |
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The jail is located near Jacob Circle/Sat Rasta, between the [[Mahalaxmi (railway station)|Mahalaxmi]] and Chinchpokli railway |
The jail is located near Jacob Circle/Sat Rasta, between the [[Mahalaxmi (railway station)|Mahalaxmi railway station]] and [[Chinchpokli railway station]] and the [[Jacob Circle monorail station]] in the southern part of the city. It is now surrounded by residential property renting for Rs 12–25,000/sq foot, while commercial property is leased for Rs 30–60,000/sq foot.<ref name="dna"/> |
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==Conditions== |
==Conditions== |
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The jail was originally built to accommodate 800 prisoners but the average number of inmates is 2900<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-07-20|title=Mumbai: Overcrowded' Arthur Road Jail to get eight new barracks|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-overcrowded-arthur-road-jail-to-get-eight-new-barracks-7412346/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref name="dna"/>—far exceeding its capacity in terms of space, sanitation and other facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mumbais-arthur-road-jail-nirav-modi-vijay-mallya-6600272/|title = Explained: What's inside Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, and why does it have such a reputation?|date = 18 September 2020}}</ref> It is often reported that the jail is overcrowded, and there have been proposals to build another such facility in the eastern suburbs of [[Mankhurd]] to ease the load on the jail.<ref name=":0" /> |
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The State Human Rights Commission had often suggested that the prison be decongested. Furthermore, a committee which was appointed to inspect the security of the jail has suggested that the prison be shifted due to many high rise constructions around the jail.<ref name=":1" /> |
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Prisoners have high rates of [[HIV]] and [[tuberculosis]]. |
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In June 2021, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the superintendent of the prison wrote to [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation|BMC]] to ask them to start a vaccination drive for the prisoners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mumbai: Vaccinate all Arthur Road jail inmates soon, superintendent writes to BMC|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-vaccinate-all-arthur-road-jail-inmates-soon-superintendent-writes-to-bmc|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> |
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A few decades ago, this prison was one of the most feared in India, because of the treatment prisoners received from the inmate overseers. The cells were overcrowded and the prisoners had to sleep on blankets infested with [[lice]]. |
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In July 2021, eight new barracks were added to the jail which could house 200 additional inmates. There were several delays in construction, which lasted five years, due to shortage of funds. This was done in an attempt to alleviate the overcrowding situation, something that the prison authorities were frequently criticized for.<ref name=":1" /> |
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Incarcerated members of [[Indian mafia|crime syndicates]] who are able to bribe guards and officers are able to live a more comfortable lifestyle. For those who belonged to powerful gangs, it was easy to control underworld activities from within the jail by mobile phone. However, a newly installed [[Mobile phone jammer|jammer]] (to block out mobile signals) may have put an end to that. |
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== Prison violence == |
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The jail has seen instances of prison violence amongst gangs.<ref name=":0" /> |
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In 2006, a clash between the members of gangs belonging to [[Dawood Ibrahim]] and [[Chhota Rajan]] broke out. After this incident, the authorities started lodging opposing groups in different parts of the jail.<ref name=":0" /> |
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In 2010, a violent clash broke out between the gangster [[Abu Salem]] and Mustafa Dossa, who were the accused in the [[1993 Bombay bombings|1993 Bombay serial blasts]], which let to Salem's face being slashed with a sharpened spoon.<ref name=":0" /> |
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== Notable inmates == |
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* [[Sanjay Dutt]], a [[Bollywood]] actor who was imprisoned for illegal possession of armed weapons<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Barrack 12. All you want to know of the jail which may house Mallya|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-barrack-12-all-you-want-to-know-of-the-jail-which-may-house-mallya/20180803.htm|access-date=2020-03-13|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref> |
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* [[Ajmal Kasab]], a Pakistani terrorist and member of [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]] who took part in the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]<ref name=":2" /> |
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* [[Abu Salem]], terrorist and organised crime leader<ref name=":2" /> |
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*[[Aryan Khan]], son of actor [[Shah Rukh Khan]], was sent to this prison for drug related offenses<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-09|title=Inconsolable Gauri Khan breaks down as son Aryan Khan sent to Arthur Road Jail - Watch|url=https://zeenews.india.com/people/inconsolable-gauri-khan-breaks-down-as-son-aryan-khan-sent-to-arthur-road-jail-in-cruise-party-drugs-case-unseen-video-goes-viral-watch-2401077.html|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref> |
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* [[Anil Deshmukh]], former [[Uddhav Thackeray ministry|Minister for Home Affairs]] in the [[Government of Maharashtra]] between 2019 and 2021, is currently jailed pending his trial. |
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*[[Raj Kundra]], British-Indian businessman, and husband of actress [[Shilpa Shetty]] was sent to this prison for a pornography case. |
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==Popular culture== |
==Popular culture== |
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The prison features in [[Gregory David Roberts]]' award-winning book [[Shantaram (novel)|Shantaram]], which details his life on the run and his time spent in Mumbai, including a stint in Arthur Road. Several scenes in [[Katherine Boo]]'s [[Behind the Beautiful Forevers]] take place in the facility. |
The prison features in [[Gregory David Roberts]]' award-winning book ''[[Shantaram (novel)|Shantaram]]'', which details his life on the run and his time spent in Mumbai, including a stint in Arthur Road. Several scenes in [[Katherine Boo]]'s ''[[Behind the Beautiful Forevers]]'' take place in the facility. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Mumbai]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Mumbai]] |
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[[Category:Prisons in Maharashtra]] |
[[Category:Prisons in Maharashtra]] |
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{{India-struct-stub}} |
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{{Prison-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 15:57, 6 December 2024
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| Location | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 18°59′6.7″N 72°49′47.14″E / 18.985194°N 72.8297611°E |
| Status | Open |
| Security class | Maximum |
| Capacity | 1074 |
| Opened | 1926 |
The Mumbai Central Prison, also referred to as Arthur Road Jail, was built in 1926,[1] 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.[2] The jail occupies 2 acres (0.81 ha) of land.[1]
Location
[edit]The jail is located near Jacob Circle/Sat Rasta, between the Mahalaxmi railway station and Chinchpokli railway station and the Jacob Circle monorail station in the southern part of the city. It is now surrounded by residential property renting for Rs 12–25,000/sq foot, while commercial property is leased for Rs 30–60,000/sq foot.[1]
Conditions
[edit]The jail was originally built to accommodate 800 prisoners but the average number of inmates is 2900[3][1]—far exceeding its capacity in terms of space, sanitation and other facilities.[4] It is often reported that the jail is overcrowded, and there have been proposals to build another such facility in the eastern suburbs of Mankhurd to ease the load on the jail.[2]
The State Human Rights Commission had often suggested that the prison be decongested. Furthermore, a committee which was appointed to inspect the security of the jail has suggested that the prison be shifted due to many high rise constructions around the jail.[3]
In June 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the superintendent of the prison wrote to BMC to ask them to start a vaccination drive for the prisoners.[5]
In July 2021, eight new barracks were added to the jail which could house 200 additional inmates. There were several delays in construction, which lasted five years, due to shortage of funds. This was done in an attempt to alleviate the overcrowding situation, something that the prison authorities were frequently criticized for.[3]
Prison violence
[edit]The jail has seen instances of prison violence amongst gangs.[2]
In 2006, a clash between the members of gangs belonging to Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan broke out. After this incident, the authorities started lodging opposing groups in different parts of the jail.[2]
In 2010, a violent clash broke out between the gangster Abu Salem and Mustafa Dossa, who were the accused in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts, which let to Salem's face being slashed with a sharpened spoon.[2]
Notable inmates
[edit]- Sanjay Dutt, a Bollywood actor who was imprisoned for illegal possession of armed weapons[6]
- Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist and member of Lashkar-e-Taiba who took part in the 2008 Mumbai attacks[6]
- Abu Salem, terrorist and organised crime leader[6]
- Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan, was sent to this prison for drug related offenses[7]
- Anil Deshmukh, former Minister for Home Affairs in the Government of Maharashtra between 2019 and 2021, is currently jailed pending his trial.
- Raj Kundra, British-Indian businessman, and husband of actress Shilpa Shetty was sent to this prison for a pornography case.
Popular culture
[edit]The prison features in Gregory David Roberts' award-winning book Shantaram, which details his life on the run and his time spent in Mumbai, including a stint in Arthur Road. Several scenes in Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers take place in the facility.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Mustafa Plumber & Manish K Pathak (19 April 2011). "Time to free Mumbai of its overcrowded prison?". DNA India. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Explained: What's inside Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, and why does it have such a reputation?". The Indian Express. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Mumbai: Overcrowded' Arthur Road Jail to get eight new barracks". The Indian Express. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Explained: What's inside Mumbai's Arthur Road jail, and why does it have such a reputation?". 18 September 2020.
- ^ "Mumbai: Vaccinate all Arthur Road jail inmates soon, superintendent writes to BMC". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Barrack 12. All you want to know of the jail which may house Mallya". Rediff. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ "Inconsolable Gauri Khan breaks down as son Aryan Khan sent to Arthur Road Jail - Watch". Zee News. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.