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Supreme Court Pulls Up Tihar Jail Authorities For Conniving With Unitech Case Accused
Mehal Jain
26 Aug 2021 4:07 PM IST
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Tihar Jail authorities for acting in connivance with the Chandra brothers in engaging in illegal activities by flouting the jail manual, dissipating proceedings, derailing investigation etc., in the Unitech money laundering case.A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah ordered to shift ex-Unitech promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra...
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Tihar Jail authorities for acting in connivance with the Chandra brothers in engaging in illegal activities by flouting the jail manual, dissipating proceedings, derailing investigation etc., in the Unitech money laundering case.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah ordered to shift ex-Unitech promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra from Tihar jail to Mumbai's Arthur Road jail and Taloja Jail, to be house separately.
"In this backdrop, the court specifically recalled the facilities that had been made available to the accused Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra, former directors of Unitech Ltd who were lodged in Tihar Jail. The court directed that they shall not be entitled to any additional facilities apart from those which are available in the normal course in terms of the jail manual. These directions were communicated by the Registrar (Judicial) to the Jail Superintendent of the Tihar Central Jail", noted the bench.
"The status report dated August 16, 2021 contains a copy of the letter addressed on August 16, 2021 by the Assistant Director, HIU, ED to the Commissioner of Police. The letter contains specific details of the manner in which the premises of Tihar Central Jail have been used- (1) in engaging in illegal activities by flouting the jail manual; (2) making efforts to dissipate the proceedings; (3) influencing witnesses and attempting to derail the investigation", said the bench.
"We have heard Mr K. M. Nataraj, ASG, and specifically queried about the action which has been taken by the Commissioner of Police, Delhi on the receipt of the communication dated August 16, 2021. The contents of the communication reveal serious and disturbing issues. What has concerned the court, in particular, is that the effort of the court, the jurisdiction of this court is sought to be undermined in complicity with the jail staff, if the contents of the letter are true."
"We are of the view that the record thus far indicate that despite the orders of this court, activities are taking place within the precincts of the Tihar Central Jail where the 2 accused have been lodged which has the propensity to undermine the authority of the court as also to derail the investigation which has been ordered by the Enforcement Directorate, including but not confined to the PMLA. In the circumstances, we order and direct that the accused be shifted immediately from Tihar Central Jail to the premises of Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai and to the Taloja Central Jail, to be housed separately. A copy of this communication shall be forwarded by the Registrar Judicial to the DGP, Maharashtra so that arrangements can be made immediately for housing the 2 accused"