HC shocked by murder of undertrial in Tihar jail

New Delhi, February 24

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed shock at the murder of a Tihar Jail inmate who was knifed to death inside the prison, saying that such things are only seen in fiction.

“I don’t know how something like this can happen. It is shocking. We see such things only in fiction,” Justice Prathiba M Singh said while hearing a plea moved by the victim’s father seeking Rs 5 crore as compensation for the custodial death of his son.

The high court directed the prison authorities, represented by Delhi government additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose and advocate Naman Jain, and the police to file a status report indicating whether an FIR has been lodged in connection with the incident and if so, the status of the investigation.

The court further said the report shall also indicate whether the CCTV footage of the cell where the victim was housed has been recovered and preserved and if yes, in what manner.

It also asked whether any charge sheet has been filed in the case and if so, the status of the trial in the case.

The court also said the victim’s father—Ali Sher—be kept informed about the developments in the investigation or trial of the case.

With these directions, the court listed the matter for hearing on March 5.

During the hearing, Ghose too said “it was a matter of great concern” that something like this has happened in the national capital.

He said there were nine wounds on the victim’s body.

Sher, in his plea filed through advocates Anwar A Khan and Vishal Raj Sehijpal, has said his son—Dilsher Azad—was an undertrial prisoner in Tihar Jail since September 2019.

On November 30, 2020, he received a call from police officials informing him about the death of his son, but when he reached the jail, the prison authorities did not cooperate with him and he was not told the real cause of death.

After Sher called a lawyer he was informed that his son was stabbed to death with knives, the petition has claimed and added that the body was handed over on December 1, 2020.

The petition further claims that Sher had written complaints and sent representations to the Human Rights Commissioner, Lt. Governor, the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Chief Minister of Delhi and DG Prisons, for action against the erring officials and for compensation,  but till date nothing has been done or communicated to him. PTI