Three officials suspended over Tihar tea party

The issue of providing preferential treatment to VIP prisoners at Tihar Jail has claimed its first casualties. Three officials were suspended on Monday by authorities for alleged violation of their duties, following reports of tea being served to jailed former CWG organising committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi.

The three officials have been identified as assistant superintendent Krishan Kumar, assistant superintendent Jitender Pal and head warden, Satbir.u00a0 After holding an inquiry, Tihar Jail officials have confirmed that several inmates were flouting jail regulations like moving around freely inside jail premises and having tea with the jail officials. The Ministry of Home Affairs will now decide what action to take against them.

The inquiry came after a surprise visit by a trial court judge who inspected the jail on Saturday to find out that Suresh Kalmadi, the high-profile accused in the 2G swindle and Commonwealth Games scam, was sipping tea with the jail superintendent, had free access to roam inside the prison and had enough time to chat with other prisoners.

In his report, the trial court judge had said: "Suresh Kalmadi was sitting with jail superintendent Shri Bhardwaj and was enjoying tea/coffee and biscuit/namkeens. The accused were given undue liberty by jail authorities for reasons best known to them. It appears they are thoroughly enjoying their stints at the Central jail courtesy the jail officials."

Walk in the park
The judge was also surprised to see Vishal and Vikas Yadav, murderers of Nitish Katara, enjoying a stroll in the prison gardens, way beyond permitted time.u00a0