Tihar Jail Extortion Scandal: CBI Begins Preliminary Inquiry

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a preliminary inquiry on the allegations that an extortion racket was being run from Tihar and other prisons in the national capital Delhi.

Sukesh Chandrasekar had moved a petition seeking a direction to CBI for the registration of FIR. Following this the central probe agency has has filed a status report before the Delhi High Court. Justice Amit Sharma noted in an order of July 19 that a status report has been filed by the CBI.

“Special Public Prosecutor for CBI has placed on record the status report, which reflects that a preliminary inquiry had been initiated on the allegations of the present petitioner,” Justice Sharma noted in the order.”

The court has re-notified the matter for a hearing on November 18, this year. The status report was filed in response to the petition moved by Sukesh Chandrasekar in 2022.

It said that he had filed a petition and sought a direction to the CBI to register an FIR and investigate extortion racket and nexus prevailing inside (Tihar Jail) in view of his complaint of March 14, 2022, to the CBI.

The CBI has submitted a complaint/petition under the letter of March 11, 2022, of Ashok K Singh, counsel for the petitioner, forwarded to the Director CBI alleging therein extortion and threat from DG Prison.

Sukesh Chandrasekar had alleged that during an investigation by Economic Offence Wing of an FIR registered in 2021.

He disclosed to the EOW that an extortion racket was being run by them to extort money on the pretext of obtaining protection and a comfortable stay in Tihar Jail, the report stated.

It is also stated that Chandrashekhar had alleged the two top senior officials had extorted Rs 12.50 crores between the period of December 2019 to June 2022 in different branches through this person.

However, no action was taken against the then DG Prison. The same fact was also disclosed in a statement before the Enforcement Directorate.

He also alleged that, in view of statements beside EOW and ED, he is being threatened to be killed in the prison and closed the case as suicide.

Sukesh Chandrasekar had moved a petition through advocate Ashok K Singh in 2022.
In compliance with the orders by the High Court dated April 22, 2022, and August 5, 2022, a status report was filed by the CBI on November 17, 2022, mentioning that EOW Delhi police are investigating the matter and the court may pass the order it deems fit.

The High Court on April 22, 2024, directed the CBI to file an updated status report on July 19.

In compliance with this order, the CBI has filed a status report stating that “A Source information on the similar matter was received and CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry on April 16, 2024, on the basis of source information to enquire into the allegation that an Extortion racket being run from Tihar and other prisons in Delhi.”

(WITH INPUTS FROM ANI)