Overview
- Nine officers were placed under suspension by Deputy Commissioner Pawan Bansode on August 9 pending further investigation into procedural lapses during an August 4 hospital escort.
- Undertrials Karan Dhabaliya and Rajesh Pambar went missing during a surprise check at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa while five of the seven prisoners remained in custody.
- Investigators noted one prisoner left unhandcuffed and escort personnel distracted on personal phones, highlighting serious custodial oversight failures.
- The escort team initially told superiors the missing duo were at the X-ray section or in a washroom before the pair was located on hospital grounds at 3:50 pm, about an hour after they vanished.
- The suspension order invoked misconduct provisions under Rule 3 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951.