Bibi case: IG starts inquiry, records statements of jail officials

Inspector General of Police (Prisons) Jagjit Singh on Thursday held inquiry into charges of VIP treatment extended to former cabinet minister Bibi Jagir Kaur in the Kapurthala modern jail, the proceedings of which went on for four hours.

However, he preferred not to put on record statements of media persons, following whose reports an inquiry was marked by DGP (Prisons) Shashi Kant on April 3.

No media person was summoned to record his viewpoint during the inquiry held in the jail premises.

Earlier, he visited the jail premises for a surprise inspection on Wednesday night and virtually gave a clean chit to the prison authorities.

Acting upon the reported violations of jail norms to facilitate VIP treatment to Bibi, a probe was ordered by DGP (Prisons) Shashi Kant, who had advised the IG to take media persons along and to hold a press conference within the jail premises.

On Wednesday morning, he reached the Jail premises before noon and recorded his routine inquiry proceedings but kept a visible distance from the media.

After spending nearly four hours here on Thursday, he left the premises. "I have come here for the inspection on the instructions from higher authorities and will submit my report only to them. They will brief you about the proceedings," he said.

Sources inside jail revealed that three issues were focused upon by the IG during today's inquiry, namely providing LCD and satellite TV connection, large number of people thronging to meet her and distribution of fruits by Bibi to jail inmates.

The other issues regarding VIP treatment to Bibi Jagir Kaur at the time of entry into prison on Friday night and meeting people in the waiting hall instead of a special ward for interviews were kept aside in Thursday's proceedings, added sources.

Asked about the missing links of the inquiry, the IG said that he had not finished his probe proceedings yet. "In the coming days, I will like to view the video footage played by some electronic channels showing the arrival of Bibi Jagir Kaur in Kapurthala modern jail before finalising my report," he said.

Jail superintendent SP Khanna revealed that Bibi was being accorded normal treatment here. "She has been kept in a barrack with five other prisoners and we have restricted the entry of people who wish to meet her, as per instructions from the office of DGP (Prisons) and for every issue raised by media, we have submitted our submission before the IG."