Chennai: Following the claim by actress Radha that she received a threat call from a history shelter lodged inside Puzhal prison, where use of cell phones are strictly banned, jail officials had intensified their drive against the use of contrabands in the all the nine Central prison premises.
During the last two weeks, jail officials seized six mobile phones from inmates of Puzhal jails. In the last two month searches and surprise checks in jails, a total number of 23 cell phones, 15 SIM cards, 13 cell phone chargers, 685 gm of ganja and cash Rs 1,500 were seized. One grade II warder T K Prasad of Puzhal prison has been placed under suspension after preliminary enquiry.
During the raids on Thursday and Friday the jail raid teams seized two mobile phones and two SIM cards from a remand prisoner T Madhan at Puzhal jail while another mobile phone was unearthed from quarantine block in Prison II in Puzhal.
“The phone in the quarantine block was buried in the ground. It was found after certain areas on the ground looked suspicious and digging was ordered,” a jail source said. Cash worth Rs 500 was seized from a life convict M Elango, said prison chief and additional director general of police Vijay Kumar in a press release.
After actress Radha, on August 21, said she received a call from one Vairam, a history sheeter lodged in Puzhal prison, a raid was conducted in the jail but officials could not trace phone from Vairam. During the raids on 25 August, however jail staff seized three mobile phones with SIM cards, chargers and gangs from two remand prisoners namely D Karthik and J Dinesh Kumar.
Calls to actress Radha not made from prison
Police probing the complaint by Radha, who acted in the movie Sundara Travels, said the calls were not made from Puzhal jail.
“The calls originated from other places including Kancheepuram and Tirunelveli.
So it looks like somebody was using the name of Vairam to threaten her.
We are sure of nabbing the caller soon,” police said.
Police on Saturday night arrested Anthony P Raj of Chengalpet in connection with the threatening call received by Radha.
