Lok Sabha Question No. 3503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Illegal Activities in Tihar Jail
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3503

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH AUGUST, 2015/SHRAVANA 20, 1937 (SAKA)

**ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN TIHAR JAIL**

3503.	SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether an internal investigation has been conducted by the Tihar Jail authorities into the large scale smuggling of mobile phones, narcotics and other banned items and involvement of Jail Staff and Sewadaars in illegal activities;

(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken action against the guilty jail staff involved in such activities;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the other measures taken by the Government to check such cases in Tihar jail?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b):	An internal inquiry has been conducted by the Tihar Jail authorities, outcome of which is as under:

1. The prohibited articles are being smuggled inside the jail by throwing from outside as the Prison complex is surrounded by densely populated residential area and crowded/heavily trafficked roads.

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2. At times inmates are found to smuggle prohibited items through Deodhy of Jails by concealing them on person and in body cavity.

3. Some staff are also found allegedly involved in smuggling prohibited items by concealing them in their person.

(c) & (d):	32 officials have been allegedly found involved in smuggling of prohibited items inside jail during last three years, till date. In two cases, proceedings have been dropped. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated in all other cases, out of which in four cases, penalty of stoppage of increment have been awarded.

(e):	The steps taken by the Prison department to check the entry of prohibited articles  inside the jails are as under:

**(i)** Every prisoner and visitor is searched and frisked while entering and leaving the jail. Personnel of Tamil Nadu Special Police has been deployed at the ‘deodhi’ (entry lounge) of all the jails for searching and frisking of prisoners, staff, visitors and articles brought by them. Also, surprise searches are being done of barracks, cells and prisoners by the staff on a regular basis and if any illegal item is found, action as per provisions of Delhi Jail Manual is taken against the prisoner from whom the illegal article is recovered. Also, action against the concerned staff, in whose charge the prisoner is kept, is taken depending upon the circumstances of each case.

**(ii)** Door Frame Metal Detectors, Hand Held Meld Detectors, X-Ray scanners have been provided at access points and in the ‘deodhies’ (entry lounges) of the jails for proper screening of all articles brought by prisoners so that no one smuggles any prohibited article including mobile phones inside the Prison.

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**(iii)** FG-1 security poles for detecting metal/cell phones in body cavity have been installed.

**(iv)** Deep search Metal Detectors have been procured for detecting prohibited articles hidden beneath the earth.

**(v)** Centralized teams are constituted for carrying out surprise searches in the jails to recover the prohibited/contraband articles, which include mobile phones, chargers, batteries etc.

**(vi)** 258 CCTV Cameras have been installed in Delhi Jails to keep surveillance over the activities of prisoners.

**(vii)** Thirty two Cell Phone Jammers have already been installed in jails to rule out any possibility of use of mobile phones by the inmates in jails.

**(viii)** Delhi Prisons is in close co-ordination with District Police to prevent cell phone and other prohibited articles from being thrown from outside areas in the jails.

**(ix)** The duties of sewadars are frequently rotated so that they may not develop any undue nexus.

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