Berhampur: A day after the seizure of narcotics and cash from the cell of Ramesh Jena in the circle jail, Ganjam collector and District Magistrate Prem Chandra Choudhury on Tuesday directed the jail authorities to shift the former Congress MLA to Chhatrapur jail.
The collector also ordered shifting of Jena's aide and Corporator Ranjit Nayak from Berhampur to Digapahandi jail for security reasons.
A surprise raid on the Berhampur circle jail on Monday led to seizure of mobile phones, large quantity of cash, sharp weapons and narcotics from its cells. A major portion of the seizure was allegedly found in possession of former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena, who is housed in the same jail.
The seizures also hint that even after his arrest, Ramesh, alleged to be heading a crime syndicate, was continuing with his clout from inside the jail premises. Mobile phones, Rs.66,260 in cash, four fans, costly cigarette packets and marijuana were seized from his cell . Total cash seized from various jail cells was Rs.83,430.
The raid was conducted in the presence of Inspector General of Police, southern range, Amitabh Thakur, Ganjam District Collector Prem Chand Choudhary, Berhampur Superintendent of Police Ashis Singh and other senior officials.
Following the seizure, the jail administration initiated action against two jail officials. Senior Superintendent of Berhampur Circle Jail, Raghunath Majhi, informed, “Warden Chinmaya Pradhan has been placed under suspension while Warden Mangulu Sethy has been transferred for negligence of duty.”