The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has commenced a preliminary inquiry into allegations of an extortion racket operating from Tihar and other prisons in Delhi. This action follows a petition by Sukesh Chandrasekar, who requested the CBI to register an FIR.
The central investigative agency submitted a status report to the Delhi High Court, as noted by Justice Amit Sharma on July 19. “Special Public Prosecutor for CBI has placed on record the status report, which reflects that a preliminary inquiry had been initiated on the allegations of the present petitioner,” Justice Sharma remarked. The court has scheduled a hearing for November 18, 2023.
This status report responds to Sukesh Chandrasekar’s 2022 petition, which sought CBI intervention to investigate an alleged extortion racket within Tihar Jail. Chandrasekar had claimed in his March 14, 2022, complaint that senior prison officials were involved in extorting money in exchange for protection and favorable treatment in Tihar Jail. He alleged that two senior officials extorted Rs 12.50 crores from December 2019 to June 2022. Despite these serious allegations, no action was taken against the then Director General of Prisons, according to Chandrasekar.
Chandrasekar also alleged threats to his life, claiming he was being coerced to close the case as a suicide. His statements were also given before the Enforcement Directorate.
Following orders from the High Court on April 22, 2022, and August 5, 2022, the CBI filed a status report on November 17, 2022, indicating that the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police was investigating the matter. The court then directed the CBI on April 22, 2024, to provide an updated status report by July 19, 2024.
In compliance, the CBI’s recent status report confirmed that “source information on a similar matter was received, and the CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry on April 16, 2024, based on this source information to investigate the allegation that an extortion racket is being run from Tihar and other prisons in Delhi.”