Thane police commissioner Bhujangrao Mohite had posted special staff in September-end outside the jail to screen undertrials trying to sneak in cellular phones, narcotic drugs and other prohibited material.

The petitioners pleaded for an ``appropriate order to protect the integrity of applicant and dignity of personhood''. The petition further mentions that on September 24, when the accused were brought back in the police van after been produced before Sessions Judge RS Dhave they were asked to alight from the vehicle and taken to an open room inside the gate.

The ``prisoners were then strippedin presence of each other and number of persons and policemen waiting near the gate''.

Mohite had deputed special staff to carry out the checks on the prisoners after a surprise raid of Thane jail in mid-September revealed mobile phones, chargers, sim cards, nylon rope and even chilli powder in some cells.

Subsequently, police recovered incriminating details leaking out of the jail pertaining to planned escape of convicts and also execution of killings from the jail. Further screening led to the discovery of chits of paper (which contained information on escapes and suicide), chocolates, soaps, chilli powder, sim cards, opium and sharp weapons like razor blades.

Even messages were passed in and out of the jail by gangsters when the undertrials attended court and after medical check-ups.

Most of the material seized had been concealed in the undergarments of these undertrials.

The recent killing of Salim Gore (40) and Ashraf Shaikh (32) near Abhiruchi Hotel in Thane is also believed to have beenmasterminded by a criminal belonging to one of the rival gangs lodged in Thane central jail with the help of his brother, Aslam Shaikh. Also, the murder of a cable operator in Thane on September 27 is also suspected to have been executed by a prisoner, Papa Surve, who is still in Thane jail.

With the help of chits he passed on the orders to his brother when he was taken to court for proceedings of a extortion case.