9 jail officials, doctor held in drug racket running from jail: Punjab to high court

As per a report before the Punjab and Haryana high court, the accused persons were provided mobile phones and SIM cards inside the jail

The Punjab Police have told the high court that 10 government employees, including nine jail officials and a doctor, have been arrested in connection with a drug racket being run from the Ferozepur central jail.

As per a report before the Punjab and Haryana high court, the accused persons were provided mobile phones and SIM cards inside the jail. (Shutterstock)

The Punjab government’s law officer told the court that the matter is being investigated by IPS officer J Elanchezhian.

The submissions were made in an anticipatory bail matter in a drugs case in which in December 2023, the court found that even as FIR was registered on March 28, 2023, no questions were put to three accused with regards to the involvement of jail officials in allowing the use of phones etc. inside the jail. “... apparently every attempt was made by the investigating officer to shield the guilty jail officials,” the court had observed while seeking a report on the action taken against the jail officials.

As per a report before the high court, the accused persons were provided mobile phones and SIM cards inside the jail. The mobile phone used by an accused Raj Kumar alias Raja remained active from March 1, 2019, to March 31, 2019, at a single location of the Ferozepur central jail.

Now, the court has posted the matter for further hearing on July 25 and directed the Punjab Police to file the latest status report of investigation.