New Delhi: The CBI has sought approval from Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena to probe allegations that former Delhi cabinet minister Satyendar Jain and former jail superintendent at Tihar Raj Kumar ran an “extortion racket” at the prison, taking hefty sums from inmates including alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekar.
Sources aware of the communication told ThePrint that the CBI wrote to the L-G’s office last week alleging that Jain had extorted Rs 10 crore from Sukesh Chandrashekhar either by himself or through his aides in the prison to let him live “peacefully and comfortably” in Tihar, Rohini, and Mandoli jails of Delhi.
The CBI has also alleged that Jain and Kumar worked in connivance with two former prison officials — director general of prisons Sandeep Goel and additional inspector general of prisons Mukesh Prasad — and that Goel and Prasad themselves received Rs 12.50 crore from Chandrasekhar in tranches between 2019 and 22.
The agency has sought the L-G’s approval to probe the claims under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“Satyendar Jain, the former jail minister, GNCTD, and Raj Kumar have been accused of high-level corruption and running extortion racket in connivance with other accomplices, including the then Delhi’s director general of prisons Sandeep Goel and the then additional inspector general of prisons Mukesh Prasad, who are both under suspension,” a source in the Delhi L-G’s office told ThePrint.
“Jain had extorted and received Rs 10 crore from Sukash Chandrashekhar in various tranches during 2018-21 either personally or through his accomplices, as protection money so as to enable Sukesh to live peacefully and comfortably in different jails of Delhi,” the source added.
Another source in the L-G’s office told ThePrint that all the allegations made by the CBI against Jain and some prison officials will be examined “thoroughly” and the sanctioning process will take time.
Jain is currently out on interim bail on medical grounds after being sent to judicial custody in connection with a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate. The agency had initiated a probe against him based on an FIR lodged by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Sandeep Goel, an IPS officer of 1989 batch, was suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs in December last year when a three-member committee submitted its report and suggested that under his watch, Jain was getting “privileges” while serving judicial custody in a money laundering case.
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‘Protection money’
The agency moved its request to the Delhi L-G on 10 November after receiving “source information” that Jain and Kumar “colluded” with Goel and Prasad to run a “syndicate of extortion racket from the prison and received protection money” from jailed individuals, it is learnt.
“Raj Kumar the then jail superintendent, Central Jail 4, was a close associate of Sandeep Goel and aided him extorting money from inmate Sukesh Chandrashekhar and even himself tried to extort money from the conman through Paytm mode. Goel and Mukesh Prasad are also accused of receiving Rs 12.50 crore in various tranches during 2019-22 from Sukesh Chandrashekhar,” a source said.
“Jain, Goel, Prasad and Kumar are accused of misusing their official positions as public servants in extending undue favour to Sukesh Chandrashekhar and other high-profile inmates in Delhi Jails in lieu of valuable considerations,” the source added.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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