Jail Inmate Death: Two Deputy Superintendents Among 9 Officials to Face Action

The Delhi Prisons Department on Tuesday said departmental action will be taken against two deputy superintendents and seven other officials in connection with the death of Tihar Jail inmate Ankit Gujjar after an inquiry found negligence on their part. Two assistant superintendents, three head warders and two warders are also among the nine prison officials who will face action, the department said.

A departmental inquiry into the death of Gujjar had found negligence on the part of certain prison staffers. The inquiry was conducted by the DIG prisons.

“Departmental action will be taken against nine personnel who were found negligent in the DIG inquiry. Out of them, four have already been suspended,” Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel said. A report about the negligent conduct of jail doctors will be sent to the health department of the Delhi government, officials said.

Gujjar was found dead inside his cell in Tihar jail while two of his former cellmates, who were lodged in an adjacent lockup, were found injured on August 4. In a petition filed through advocates Mehmood Pracha and Shariq Nisar, the family has alleged that Gujjar was being harassed by jail officials as he was “unable to meet their regularly increasing demands for money” and was murdered “as a part of pre-planned conspiracy”.