Threat from within: Protecting conman Sukesh in jail latest challenge for authorities at Tihar

NEW DELHI: A constable of the Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) Force stands guard outside a cell in Tihar prison’s jail number 1. He isn’t a part of the prison’s internal security set-up and doesn’t report to any of its officers. The constable has just one job — making sure that alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar is safe.

Tihar jail officers have put in place several new measures to ensure Chandrashekhar’s safety, and to make it impossible for him to level false allegations of assault to get himself transferred.

The 33-year-old had earlier filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a transfer from Tihar because of the threat to his life. The Centre, Enforcement Directorate and jail authorities have objected to shifting him out from Tihar. The Supreme Court will hear the matter on June 30.

Prison officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said the threat against Chandrashekhar is from within the system.

“The people who are co-accused in his case are very influential former jail officers, who ran the prison... After their arrest, not only were their careers cut short but they are also facing criminal charges and are lodged in the same prison complex... Chandrashekhar is the prime accused and also the most important witness in the case,” said a prison officer.

The case itself involves the attempt to extort of ₹200 crore from industrialist Shivinder Mohan’s wife. The police investigating the case have mentioned in their case files that the now suspended jail officers were paid a monthly bribe of up to ₹50 lakh for helping Chandrashekhar inside the jail.