Ex-Tihar jail doctor denied treating Ankit Gujjar hours before death: CBI to HC

The agency said that the junior doctor had testified that he did not visit ward no 1 (where Gujjar was lodged) on the intervening night of August 3-4, adding that further investigation on this is underway.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday told the Delhi high court that a junior doctor, who Tihar jail officials claimed attended to gangster Ankit Gujjar hours before his death in prison, has denied visiting the deceased. The prison authorities said it subsequenlty sacked the contractual doctor for alleged negligence in treating Gujjar.

Ankit Gujjar (29) was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail on August 4, following which the mother moved court seeking a CBI enquiry.  (HT_Print)

In a status report filed before justice Mukta Gupta on Wednesday, the CBI also said they are examining online payments from Gujjar’s brother.

Gujjar (29) was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail on August 4, following which the mother moved court seeking a CBI enquiry. On September 8, the high court said that it was a clear case of custodial violence and transferred the probe to CBI from the local police.

Pursuant to this, the CBI, in a status report before justice Mukta Gupta, said that it had examined the medical staff including the then junior resident and the medical officer on duty at the jail hospital on the intervening night of August 3-4.

The agency said that the junior doctor had testified that he did not visit ward no 1 (where Gujjar was lodged) on the intervening night of August 3-4, adding that further investigation on this is underway.

A status report filed by the jail authorities said that they cancelled the appointment of the junior doctor, a contract staff, due to negligence in Gujjar’s medical examination, and also initiated action against the medical officer. Jail officials have said that four prison officials, including deputy superintendent Narender Meena (who was allegedly involved in a fight with Gujjar on August 3), assistant superintendents Deepak Dabas and Balraj, and warder Shiva had been suspended after the incident.

The reports by the authorities were filed in response to a plea by Gujjar’s mother, through advocate Mehmood Pracha, claiming that her son was being harassed by the jail officials as he was “unable to meet their regularly increasing demands for money” and was murdered “as a part of pre-planned conspiracy”.

The agency said that during the investigation, Gujjar’s brother, Ankul, gave them the details of the various payments allegedly made to some persons, which have been scrutinised.