Suspend Tihar staff who helped Unitech ex-promoters, orders Supreme Court

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 6

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered immediate suspension of Tihar Jail officials, who allegedly extended undue favours to former Unitech promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra while they were in jail in violation of its orders.

A Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud, which had on August 26 directed shifting of the Chandra brothers from Tihar Jail to separate jails, Arthur Road Jail and Taloga Jail, in Mumbai, also ordered a full-fledged probe into the alleged collusion of Tihar Jail officials with the Unitech’s ex-promoters after perusing a report submitted to it in a sealed cover by Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

The court ordered registration of criminal cases against Tihar Jail officials and other unidentified persons under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC for alleged involvement in the collusion. The Tihar Jail officials shall remain suspended pending proceedings against whom cases will be lodged as per the report, following ED’s disclosure that the Chandra brothers were conducting business while lodged in jail.

It directed the Home Ministry to comply with Asthana’s suggestions in the report on enhancing prison management and allowed a copy to be shared with the ministry for compliance. Taking the sealed cover reports of the ED, serious fraud investigation office and Delhi Police, the Bench listed the matter for further hearing on October 21. Senior counsel Vikas Singh, representing the Chandras, demanded a copy of forensic auditor Grant Thornton report to enable the accused prepare their defence and urged the Bench not to pass orders without properly hearing them.