28 officials at Delhi’s Tihar jail, where Satyendar Jain is lodged, shifted out

NEW DELHI: At least 28 prison officials posted in Tihar jail number 7, where former Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain is lodged, have been transferred, officials aware of the development said.

The transfer order was issued after the suspension of Ajit Kumar, superintendent of Jail number 7, on Monday for allegedly circumventing rules to give special facilities to Jain. Until his arrest, Jain was also minister of prisons in Delhi.

“The officers transferred are those who were directly guarding or were in-charge of the cell where the minister was lodged. An inquiry has been ordered to probe the role of other persons,” said a senior prison officer, aware of the development.

Among those transferred were 2 deputy superintendents, 3 assistant superintendents, 7 head warders and 16 warders, said the officers quoted above.

Last month, the ministry of home affairs sought a report from the Delhi chief secretary regarding allegations that Jain was availing ‘special treatment’ inside Tihar prisons in connivance with the prison authorities. The ministry sought the report after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed a Delhi court that Jain was living a luxurious lifestyle with facilities such as massages and salads as well as meeting his family members and the witnesses of the case in which he has been arrested.

Amid the allegations, director general (prison) Sandeep Goel was transferred in the first week of November. Earlier this week, the prison also appointed a spokesperson, Dheeraj Mathur.

The Aam Aadmi Party has maintained that Satyendar Jain’s arrest is a case of political vendetta.