Vellore prison officials, DIG suspended for harassment and torture of convicted prisoner

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Prisons and Correctional Services Department has suspended Deputy Inspector General (Prisons), Vellore, R Rajalakshmi and two other officers Additional Superintendent of Prisons A Abdul Rahman and former Vellore Prison Jailer Arul Kumaran in connection with the exploitation of convicted prisoners by making them do household chores of prison officials.

Over a month ago, CB-CID had booked DIG Rajalakshmi and 13 others after a judicial magistrate’s report to the Madras High Court regarding the exploitation of convicted prisoners.

Sources said the move follows harsh criticism from the Madras High Court during a recent hearing in the case on Monday.

The court wondered why no departmental action was taken against the senior officials while those in the lower rung were subjected to departmental action even for minor derelictions.

The department had earlier transferred the DIG and placed her on compulsory wait while Abdul Rahman was transferred to Puzhal.

Apart from the trio, the DIG’s security officer Raju and ten constables were booked by the CB-CID under several sections including 127 (8) (wrongful confinement), and 146 (unlawful labour) of BNS among others. Sources said that some of those booked are likely to be remanded in judicial custody.

Apart from making a life convict do household chores, the prison authorities had also allegedly beaten up and tortured an inmate S Sivakumar, accusing him of stealing Rs 4.5 lakh cash and other valuables from the Deputy Inspector General’s residence.

“A shock to our conscience,” noted the Madras High Court while reprimanding the jail authorities and directing the DGP to initiate disciplinary actions against the erring officials. Meanwhile, sources said that some of the personnel booked in the case are likely to be arrested.