Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) Three Tihar Jail officials have been suspended and disciplinary action has been recommended against another for extending extra liberties to sacked Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and murder convicts Vikas and Vishal Yadav, an official said Monday.

Sub-jail Superintendent S.C. Bhardwaj, against whom action has been recommended, is presently in Andaman and Nicobar Islands after he received his transfer order a month back, said Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) R.N. Sharma.

The action follows an investigation ordered by Sharma Saturday after a media report said Kalmadi was receiving special treatment in jail.

Sharma said: “There was a report Saturday that Kalmadi was found having a cup of tea and snacks with sub-jail four’s superintendent S.C. Bharadwaj. An inquiry was conducted and it was found that these things have happened. Kalmadi had admitted that he had a cup of tea but has denied having any kind of snacks with Bharadwaj.”

The inquiry report has been submitted to the Delhi government and ministry of home affairs as Bharadwaj is a Delhi, Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Service (DANICS) officer.

“The chief secretary of Delhi has already approved the proposal to take disciplinary action against Bharadwaj and now the proposal will be sent to the ministry of home affairs,” said Sharma.

Regarding Vikas Yadav, who was found strolling in the jail’s garden beyond the permitted time, Sharma said he was coming back to his cell after making a phone call at 12.10 p.m. along with a couple of other inmates.

“He was not the only person as there were 27 more people who had to make a call on that day. In the inquiry report, there is not much fault as far as he is concerned,” said Sharma.

About Vishal Yadav, who was found sitting in front of the cell gate during the closing hours - 12 noon to 3 p.m. - the officer said: “It was found that he was performing pooja at the temple. He could have done his pooja in the morning or in the afternoon, whenever the jail was open. So this kind of omission is not called for. The head warden Satvir has been suspended.”

The officer also said that Assistant Superintendent Jitender Pal, responsible for getting inmates lodged from ward no.1 to 6, was not found on duty at that point of time.

“He should have been inside the jail, supervising and ensuring that the cells were locked. He has been placed under suspension.

“Kishan Kumar, assistant superintendent, was also suspended for leaving all cells open in ward 15, where Kalmadi and others have been lodged,” Sharma said.

The irregularities in Tihar came to light Thursday when inspecting trial court judge Brijesh Kumar Garg visited sub-jail four.

In his report, Garg mentioned that he found Kalmadi enjoying a cup of tea and snacks in the office of of sub-jail four’s superintendent and Vishal and Vikas Yadav, who are serving life terms for the murder of Nitish Katara, were found strolling outside their cells beyond the permitted time.

–Indo-Asian New Service
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