Sorry state of affairs in Tihar, murders occur in prison: SC

One-liner: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it is a sorry state of affairs in Tihar Jail which has become a den of criminals and murders are happening there while directing the Home Ministry to take immediate steps to stop this.

Expresses annoyance: The apex court also expressed annoyance over the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) not filing an action plan and report on steps taken on the suggestions given by Delhi Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana.

FIR registered: The top court was informed by Delhi police that it has registered an FIR against 37 persons with regard to collusion with realty firm Unitech's imprisoned ex-promoters Sanjay and Ajay Chandra.

Startling revelation: The Enforcement Directorate had made a startling revelation recently that it had unearthed a secret underground office which was being operated by erstwhile Unitech founder Ramesh Chandra and visited by his sons Sanjay and Ajay when on parole or bail.

• Both Sanjay and Ajay, who are in jail since Aug 2017, are accused of allegedly siphoning home buyers' money
• A bench said Asthana's report has recommended installation of CCTV cameras, mobile jammers, body scanners and other security measures in Tihar Jail but there is no report before it on the compliance of the Oct 6 order by MHA

File action report: The concerned secretary in MHA should file an action plan and a report on steps taken so far on the suggestions given by Rakesh Asthana within three weeks, the bench said.

• The bench also said that it would also seek a report from the Delhi govt on the suspension of jail officials who have been booked for collusion

Court direction: On Oct 6, the top court had directed suspension of Tihar Jail officials, registration of a case against them and full-fledged probe into their collusion with Chandra brothers, based on Asthana's report.

Shift Chandra brothers: On Aug 26, the apex court had directed that the Chandra brothers be shifted from Tihar Jail to Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail and Taloja prison in Maharashtra after the ED had said that they were conducting business from the premises in connivance with the staff.

Source: PTI