3 Tihar officials suspended

Tihar jail authorities, acting on the findings of an internal inquiry into allegations of preferential treatment to high-profile inmates of sub-jail four, on Monday suspended three officials — two assistant superintendents and a head warder.

Tihar jail authorities, acting on the findings of an internal inquiry into allegations of preferential treatment to high-profile inmates of sub-jail four, on Monday suspended three officials — two assistant superintendents and a head warder.

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The jail authorities also recommended to the ministry of home affairs , via the Delhi government, to take disciplinary action against the sub-jail's former superintendent SC Bharadwaj.

Bharadwaj had allegedly allowed — against the rules — Commonwealth Games Organising Committee's former chairman Suresh Kalmadi to sit in his air-conditioned cabin and have tea on June 30. On July 1, Bharadwaj was transferred to Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as per a month-old MHA transfer order.

Kalmadi, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the CWG scam, is lodged in sub-jail four.

The irregularities in the sub-jail came to be known after inspecting trial court judge Brijesh Kumar Garg visited Tihar. Garg is in the group of judges assigned the task of inspecting the prison conditions in each of the 10 sub-jails in Tihar. The judge also found the cells of 2G spectrum scam accused open.

The report also mentioned that Vishal and Vikas Yadav, who are serving life terms for the murder of Nitish Katara, were found strolling in the jail's garden beyond the permitted time.

On July 2, deputy inspector general (prisons) RN Sharma ordered the department's vigilance chief Dinesh Gandhi to probe into the alleged irregularities. The punitive action came after Gandhi submitted his report. Sharma said the suspended officials were Jitendra Pal and Kishan Kumar (assistant jail superintendents) and head warder Satbir Yadav.

A source in the jail who has access to Gandhi's report said, "Kalmadi claimed he had tea but no biscuits, as he is diabetic."

On Vishal Yadav, the source added, "The head warder and Pal allowed him, against the rules, to visit a temple near the ward." "Vikas Yadav was returning after making a permitted telephone call."