The Delhi High Court on May 2, 2025, issued a directive to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary enquiry into serious allegations of a criminal extortion racket being operated within the premises of Tihar Jail. The order was passed by a division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, while hearing a plea that raised concerns over illegal practices, corruption, and misconduct inside the high-security jail.
The Court took cognizance of a sealed report submitted by the inspecting judge of Tihar Jail, which revealed worrying details about both inmate activities and possible collusion by jail authorities. “The report contains disturbing revelations of criminal operations within the prison, which necessitate a detailed probe,” the Bench noted.
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Delhi Govt Directed to Identify Officials Responsible for Administrative Lapses
In parallel with the CBI probe, the High Court has also directed the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Delhi, to initiate a fact-finding enquiry. This enquiry must identify officials responsible for administrative and supervisory lapses that enabled such activities to take place within Tihar.
The Bench specifically instructed that the Director General of Prisons should extend full cooperation to both the CBI and the Delhi government during the investigation. “The inquiry shall reflect on various administrative lapses and supervisory failures and must clearly indicate the names of the officials responsible,” the order read.
Sealed Report Exposes Shocking Irregularities, Next Hearing on August 11
The case initially stemmed from a petition alleging rampant misconduct inside Tihar, not just by inmates but also implicating prison officials. In earlier proceedings, the Court had tasked the inspecting judge with conducting a review and submitting findings in a sealed envelope. Upon examining the report during Friday’s hearing, the bench expressed serious concern over the content.
While the court did not publicly disclose the report’s specifics, it emphasized that the nature of the allegations demanded a criminal-level inquiry.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for August 11, 2025, by which time both the CBI’s preliminary findings and the Delhi government’s fact-finding report are expected to be tabled.
This case brings renewed attention to the long-standing issues of corruption, extortion, and criminal nexus within prison systems, particularly in India’s largest high-security prison, and underscores the judiciary’s push for institutional accountability.
