An inquiry report regarding VIP treatment to jailed Delhi Minister in Tihar has found that Satyendar Jain "misused" his official position and met with the co-accused in a money laundering case, in which he was arrested, in his prison cell.
The report by the committee, comprising Principal Secretaries of the Delhi Government's Home, Law and Vigilance departments, has noted "collusion" on part of then Director-General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel with Jain. “The serious lapses/irregularities committed by jail authorities cannot be ignored. Jail suffered a serious dent in its image in recent times and, therefore, strict action deserves to be taken against the officers/officials.
The committee has been able to identify at least three officials namely the then Jail Superintendent Ajit Kumar, warden Vikas and the DG (Prison) Sandeep Goel against whom departmental proceedings should be initiated. The DG (Prisons) should also identify more officials involved in omission and commission and take action expeditiously.
The committee holds that Jain inmate and Minister, too, is involved in the violation of the norms and rules of the prisons and in the misuse of his official position and authority which enabled him to enjoy special treatment/facilities in jail,” the report said. The committee was set up by Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena following reports of special treatment to Jain in prison. Responding to the issue, Delhi Government sources said that the L-G had no power to set up this committee. “The committee and its report are illegal. L-G is acting like Aurangzeb.
He should realise that India has a Constitution and he is bound by the same,” they added. Talking about the report, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said that report has proved that Kejriwal Government has given VIP treatment to Jain and it shows how Jain has misused his position to get five star facilities in jail.
“At least five inmates namely, Rinku (POCSO accused), Afsar Ali, Manish (POCSO accused), Sonu Singh and Dilip Kumar were pressurized by the jail administration (including Jail Superintendent, Jail Warden and Jail Munshi) to provide “special services” to Jain. Underlines that retinue of Jail officials including Wardens, Munshis and other staff were involved in the service of Jain,” the report said. “The inmates did not offer any service to Jain voluntarily or out of “love and affection” as cited by the suspended Jail Superintendent Ajit Kumar. Instead, the inmates feared that if they refused to obey, they would be given “Punishment Ticket” or tortured in jail,” it stated.
“In violation of Prison Rules Jain frequently held court in his room with co-accused in same case Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain apart from Sanjay Gupta and Raman Bhuraria who are accused in other cases filed by ED. Such meetings often happened even during restricted curfew hours,” the report said.
Jain’s wife Poonam Jain and other family members had frequent meetings with him in Jail in blatant violation of rules and with collusion of senior jail officials including Sandeep Goel and Ajit Kumar, it said. Goel met Jain in his cell for about 50 minutes on October 6 from 18.39 hrs to 19.29 hrs. This reflects that he was quite close to the jailed Minister and indicates collusion of top brass, while Ajit Kumar interacted with Jain in his cell for about 15 minutes on September 12, the report said.
“Benami use of the jail account cards of other inmates to purchase fruits/food and other items by Jain for personal use, was found. Around 3-4 Jail account cards were used by him and his close aide Sanjay Gupta to purchase consumables from the jail canteen,” it informed.