A year ago, the state government had increased the food allowance for the accused lodged in police lock-ups to Rs 40 per day. But the Ahmedabad police continues to offer its detainees food that costs Rs 23.80 a day.

When this was brought to the notice of Additional Director General of Police (Law are Order) Sudhir Sinha, who is also holding the charge of ADGP (Administrations), he said: “If true, it is shocking. Necessary action will be initiated to rectify this state of affair.”

Taking into account the increase in the cost of food products over the last few years, the state Home Department had last November increased the limit of daily expenditure on food.

A Government Resolution in this connection was passed on November 11 and copies were sent to the state police chief and all police commissioners and district heads in the state. The department had also asked for immediate implementation of the order.

The police commissionerates in Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara, and the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of all districts in the state had implemented the order by revising the cost of food in the 2009-10 contracts given to the respective private contractors.

But those in the look-up rooms of the Ahmedabad police still get food costing Rs 23.80 a day. In fact, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), H P Singh had issued an order in this regard on March 25. The Indian Express has copies of both orders.

Singh’s order specifies that people in the city police lock-ups shall be supplied food costing Rs 11.90, twice a day.

... contd.