The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought sanction from the government to file an FIR against former Delhi jail minister Satyendar Jain and former director general of prisons Sandeep Goel for alleged extortion of crores of rupees from high-profile prisoners, including Sukesh Chandrashekhar, in return for a comfortable life in jail, officials said Monday. It has also sought permission to investigate Raj Kumar, the then Tihar Jail Superintendent Danics officer, who allegedly aided in extorting money from one of the prisoners.
The request seeking sanction against Jain and jail officer Raj Kumar was sent to the office of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, while for suspended IPS Goel and retired IAS Mukesh Prasad, the central agency has approached the Union Home Ministry.
Jain and ex-Jail Superintendent Raj Kumar have been accused of extorting a large sum of money from “high profile prisoners”, including conman Sukash in exchange for protection in jails. The Tihar jail is under the AAP government’s jurisdiction.
Sources said the LG's nod has also been sought to conduct a similar investigation against Danics officer Raj Kumar, who was posted as jail superintendent of central jail number 4 in Tihar prison complex. Kumar allegedly aided the then director general of prisons in extorting money from Sukesh.
Raj Kumar refused to comment on the development.CBI, in its communication, said Satyendar Jain allegedly "extorted and received Rs 10 crore from Sukesh in various tranches between 2018 and 2021, either himself or through his accomplices, as protection money" to help him "live peacefully and comfortably" in jail.
Currently lodged in Mandoli jail, Sukesh was earlier lodged in Tihar and Rohini jail complexes as an undertrial in judicial custody.
Sources said it was also alleged that a "high-level corruption and extortion racket was being run" by Jain along with the then director general, the additional inspector general of prisons, and their accomplices.
The note added that the two top prisons officials, who have been suspended by the Union home ministry for dereliction of duty, also allegedly extorted and received Rs 12.5 crore from Sukesh in several tranches during 2019-22 as protection money.Raj Kumar, who is currently posted as secretary to the Delhi legislative assembly, is facing disciplinary proceedings in a case related to alleged irregularities in construction of Rani Jhansi flyover in north Delhi.
The CBI communication alleged that Raj Kumar "misused his official position" as a public servant in the capacity of the jail superintendent of central jail-4 and "aided" top jail officers in extending undue favour and advantage to Chandrashekar and other high-profile inmates "in lieu of valuable considerations" from him.
Meanwhile, the CBI has sent a request seeking mandatory sanction against 1989 batch IPS officer Goel, who was suspended by the ministry last year, and retired IAS officer Prasad, who was posted as the additional inspector general in Tihar, they said. The probe agency needs a go-ahead from the home ministry, the cadre controlling authority, under Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act before proceeding with an investigation against them, they said.
