Unable to Afford Bail, No More: Govt Funds Release Dozens from Maharashtra Jails
Pune, 3rd May 2025: More than 40 undertrial and convicted inmates in Maharashtra have been released from various prisons after receiving financial assistance under the Centre’s “Poor Prisoners’ Scheme”, launched in 2024 to support economically disadvantaged prisoners unable to pay bail or fines.
According to state prison officials, 41 individuals—including 37 undertrials and four convicts—were granted relief through the scheme between 2024 and 2025. Authorities disbursed over ₹5.54 lakh to various courts to secure the release of these inmates, who were previously lodged in jails such as Yerawada, Arthur Road, Taloja, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, Dhule, Yavatmal, and Chandrapur.
Special Inspector General of Prisons, Jalindar Supekar, said the initiative is a step toward reducing overcrowding in state jails, which currently house more than 39,000 inmates. “Many prisoners remain behind bars for minor offences even after being granted bail, simply because they lack the means to hire a lawyer or arrange surety,” Supekar explained. “With the implementation of this scheme, we instructed jail superintendents to proactively seek out eligible inmates and coordinate with courts for the necessary paperwork.”
The scheme functions in coordination with District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), which play a key role in identifying eligible beneficiaries. Supekar noted that the department received ₹9.27 lakh in 2024 and ₹7.5 lakh in 2025 to carry out the scheme.
Sonal Patil, a member of Pune’s DLSA, said only first-time offenders involved in non-violent crimes such as theft, cheating, or petty robbery are considered under the scheme. “We assess why a prisoner couldn’t meet bail conditions. Often, they have no family support or steady income. Our team—which includes probation officers, social workers, and NGOs—verifies their background before forwarding the names to an empowered committee,” Patil said.
She added, “From a large list provided by the prisons department, we carefully filtered out habitual and repeat offenders. Only those without a serious criminal history are recommended. The committee can approve fine payments up to ₹25,000 and surety amounts up to ₹40,000.”
Officials clarified that while courts occasionally inform jails when an inmate fails to meet bail conditions due to financial constraints, the onus is now on prison authorities to identify such individuals and ensure they are not unjustly detained.
The initiative is expected to bring systemic reform by safeguarding the rights of the underprivileged and ensuring justice does not remain inaccessible due to poverty.
