Delhi High Court seeks response from Tihar jail on death of gangster and inmate, Ankit Gujjar

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Tihar Jail authorities regarding the death of 29-year-old gangster and inmate, Ankit Gujjar, inside his jail cell. (Geeta and Ors. v State and Ors.).The matter was listed before Justice Mukta Gupta who has directed the Director-General of Prisons to keep all the CCTV footage relating to the alleged incident safe..Ankit Gujjar was found dead inside Tihar Jail on August 4, 2021. Four officials of the Tihar jail, including the deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents and one warden, were suspended in connection with Gujjar's death..A plea moved in the High Court over the incident by Gujjar's family claims that the police initially did not file an FIR in the matter and that it was only after judicial intervention that the Delhi Police filed the FIR..It was further submitted that the police is trying to manipulate the investigation and safeguard the accused, despite there being clear ocular evidence of their involvement in Gujjar's death..The petitioners added that Gujjar was being harassed by the Tihar Jail authorities for protection money and that they can prove the same as well..It is also pointed out that some eyewitnesses have come forward to give their statement in the matter, even putting their life in danger in the process. However, the Delhi Police is trying to protect the offenders, the petitioners contended..It is further noted that the FIR, filed following a Metropolitan Magistrate's intervention, cites only Section 302 (murder) and 34 (consipiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). .The petitioners contend that if an independent investigation is conducted, the accused would be liable under other provisions of the IPC as well and also provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act..The petitioners are apprehensive that investigation conducted by the Delhi Police will not be fair. As such, the High Court has been urged to direct the transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an investigation to be conducted under the Court's supervision..The petitioners have also prayed for the Court to provide them with round-the-clock security..Gujjar was arrested in 2015. Among other cases, he was also accused of having murdered BJP leader, Vijay Pandit in 2014. As per an Indian Express report, following a preliminary investigation into his death, it was revealed that Gujjar was severely beaten up by four persons in jail.