New Delhi: The anti-corruption branch (ACB) of Delhi govt has busted an alleged extortion racket operating inside Delhi prisons and arrested 11 people, including a jail assistant superintendent, two head warders and four warders.The probe uncovered a well-organised criminal syndicate that allegedly extorted money from the family members of undertrial prisoners for providing protection, preferential treatment and other unauthorised facilities inside jails, said sources.The investigation began after ACB received a complaint on Feb 9 from a man, who alleged that he was being forced to pay to ensure the safety and comfort of his father and brother, both lodged as undertrials in Rohini Jail. ACB registered a case and launched a covert investigation.ACB chief Vikramjit Singh said a trap was laid, leading to the arrest of warders Dinesh Dabas, Pankaj Kumar and Ravi Kumar, and head warder Jogender, along with advocate Manish and a private individual, Ashish Rana. “Jogender is posted at Tihar Jail while the other three were from Rohini Jail,” he said.The agency also recovered a bribe amount of Rs 1 lakh, which, investigators said, was part of the extortion money allegedly collected from the complainant.Subsequent investigation revealed that the alleged racket was much larger than initially suspected. A scrutiny of bank accounts, financial transactions, digital evidence and mobile phone data pointed to an alleged wider conspiracy involving prison staff, lawyers and outsiders. Investigators found that illegal payments collected from prisoners’ families were routed through multiple bank accounts before being withdrawn in cash and distributed among members of the syndicate.Based on the evidence, ACB arrested five more accused — Sunil Kumar, an assistant superintendent at Rohini Jail; head warder Yogesh; warder Jagbir; Harender Bansal, an advocate from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh; and Viplove Khari, a private individual from Delhi.Investigators suspect that the racket was operating for some time and involved a systematic network that allegedly demanded money from the families of undertrial prisoners in return for favours inside the prison, including protection from other inmates, and preferential treatment.ACB said the investigation was continuing to identify other members of the syndicate, trace the complete money trail and establish the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.
