The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to the city government, Director General (DG) Prisons and senior officials of Tihar jail on an inspection report which found prohibited items such as LED television and household items in the cell of Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra and his brother Ajay.
The duo is lodged in Tihar jail for allegedly cheating homebuyers.
Additional Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumar-II had carried out an inspection on September 4 following complaints from other inmates that the Chandra brothers and others jailed for white-collar crimes were enjoying a “luxurious lifestyle”.
The report, which was submitted before a Bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V.K. Rao ,said circumstances indicated “corruption and grave misuse of power” on the part of DG Prisons and Tihar jail officials.
The report has said that apart from household amenities, including mattresses, mustard oil, foot-mats and stools, in their cell, the brothers also enjoyed a separate “office” room having a computer with internet, a printer as well as eatables and mineral water. It recommended that an FIR be registered against DG Prisons and officials of Tihar jail as such activities also pose an “extra burden on the public exchequer”.
It said such facilities cannot be provided to any inmate without the “involvement and knowledge” of the DG Prisons and other officials of Tihar jail.
Shifted to Mandoli
The report also said that some of the 25 complainant inmates were shifted to Mandoli jail after they sent the letter.
The court took suo motu cognisance of the report and the letter written by the inmates, and turned it into a public interest litigation. It has now posted the case for hearing on February 1, 2019.
