The blaming-and-ducking game began right after the alleged suicide by Delhi gang rape case accused Ram Singh’s death in Tihar jail.
After the Delhi government — which manages the jail — announced a magisterial inquiry into the death, Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde called the
alleged suicide a “major lapse”.
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, however, said, “Once the autopsy report comes, things will be clear.” Shinde also advised against jumping to conclusions on the cause of the death.
“It is a grave issue... I agree it is a major lapse,” Shinde told reporters as he read out an excerpt from a report received from the Delhi government on the magisterial inquiry.
Pointing out that the preliminary report suggested that it was a case of suicide, the home minister did not get into the details of the incident or the steps being taken for the four other accused lodged in Tihar jail.
Asked what steps were being planned in this context, he said, “It (Tihar jail) comes under the Delhi government. I will issue instructions to them.