Tihar prison superintendent suspended after allegations of ‘special treatment’ for Jain

The superintendent has prima facie been found to have committed irregularities which are being probed, officials aware of the development said, adding that government is also contemplating disciplinary action against him

Delhi chief secretary Naresh Kumar on Monday suspended Tihar jail superintendent Ajit Kumar amid allegations that jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Satyendar Jain was given special treatment at the jail in connivance with prison authorities.

Delhi minister Satyendar Jain. (HiT Archive)

The superintendent has prima facie been found to have committed irregularities which are being probed, officials aware of the development said, adding that government is also contemplating disciplinary action against him.

“…superintendent of central jail No.7, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect under rule 10 of the central civil services (classification, control and appeal) rules, 1965,” an order issued by the chief secretary said. HT has seen a copy of the order.

“It is further ordered that during the period this order shall remain in force, the headquarters of Ajit Kumar should be Delhi and he shall not leave the headquarters without obtaining the previous permission of the undersigned,” it said.

The department of prison comes under the preview of the elected government of Delhi. No comment was immediately available from the government or the AAP on the development.

The BJP did not respond to requests for comments.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Jain in May this year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The central agency’s probe against Jain is based on a 2017 case of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in which it was alleged that the AAP leader and his wife Poonam Jain amassed disproportionate assets worth ₹1.47 crore between February 2015 and May 2017, which was much higher than their known sources of income.

Last month, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) had sought a report from the Delhi chief secretary over allegations of special treatment meted out to Jain after the ED informed a Delhi court that the AAP minister was living a luxurious lifestyle in prison, with facilities such as face, head and foot massages, fruits and salads as well as meeting his family members.

Amid the allegations, director general (prisons) Sandeep Goel was transferred in the first week of November and was replaced by Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sanjay Beniwal.