Jodhpur : A late-night search operation at the Jodhpur Central Jail led to the recovery of 13 mobile phones and 11 SIM cards after photos from an Iftar party held inside the prison surfaced on social media. The Iftar gathering was reportedly organized on 13 March following instructions from headquarters, and inmates were allowed to participate.
However, images and videos from the event were allegedly recorded by a prisoner using a mobile phone and later shared online. After the photos went viral, prison authorities identified the inmates seen in the images and launched a search operation. Under the leadership of Jail Superintendent Pradeep Lakhawat, a team conducted a late-night search in Ward 7, Barrack No. 3 using modern scanning equipment. During the operation, officials recovered seven Android smartphones, four keypad phones, and 11 SIM cards. Most of the devices had been hidden in different locations inside the barrack, including toilets, floors, and drains.
According to jail sources, some inmates had taken selfies during the party and posted them on social media. The individuals identified include prisoners named Wasim Khan, Wahid Khan, Shekhar, Subhash, and Karim. Investigators believe the selfie was taken using a phone brought by inmate Salim from another prisoner, Narpat, who is lodged in Ward 10, Barrack No. 2. When officials searched Narpat’s barrack, they recovered a mini keypad phone without a SIM card from his bedding. Authorities also seized a Redmi Android smartphone that was reportedly being used by inmate Karim.
Further searches in other barracks led to the recovery of 11 more mobile phones and SIM cards hidden in different spots. Prison authorities have launched a detailed investigation into how the phones were smuggled into the jail and how inmates were able to use them.