Punjab and Haryana High Court for ‘deeper investigation’ into recovery of phones, SIMs in jail

Chandigarh, January 17

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that recovery of mobile phones and SIM cards from Kapurthala Central Jail required a thorough probe to unearth the modus operandi and specific roles played by the accused. “Deeper probe would not be possible, if petitioners are clothed with pre-arrest bail,” Justice Avneesh Jhingan asserted, while dismissing the bail pleas of three jail staffers.

Opposing the bail pleas, the state counsel had told the Bench that “69 cases of mobiles and SIM cards” were detected in the jail during the last year and the matter required thorough probe. The Bench was also told that a special team has been constituted. He further submitted that “Jagraj Singh, head warden in the jail, managed the entire show for providing mobile phone facility to the inmates. A sum of Rs 15, 000 to 50,000 was being charged”.

The matter was brought to the High Court’s notice after three petitions were filed for anticipatory bail in an FIR registered on July 5, 2021, for cheating and other offences under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC, besides the provisions of the Prisons Act, and the Prevention of Corruption Act in Kapurthala district.

“The allegations against the petitioners are serious. They all are posted in the jail, considering their official status and the fact that the machinery was set in motion on recovery from relative of inmate and convicts or undertrials would be witnesses, there is a fair chance of investigation and witnesses being influenced by the petitioners,” Justice Jhingan added.

Bail plea of three staffers dismissed

While dismissing the bail pleas of three jail staffers, Justice Avneesh Jhingan asserted: “Deeper probe would not be possible, if petitioners are clothed with pre-arrest bail.”