Punjab DIG Jails suspended on graft charge

Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 9

Punjab on Saturday suspended DIG Jails (Amritsar) Lakhwinder Singh Jakhar on corruption charge. Minister for Jails SS Randhawa said a departmental inquiry had been ordered. ADGP Jails PK Sinha said the action followed a preliminary inquiry by IG Jails into allegations by Deputy Superintendent Vijay Kumar, in charge of the Patti sub-jail.

Kumar alleged that during a visit on April 7, Jakhar and his staff demanded a monthly bribe and while he paid Rs 10,000, one of the jail warders paid Rs 3,000 to the DIG’s driver. The inquiry recommended action against Jakhar and a charge-sheet was filed. Jakhar denied the charges, saying there was “more to it”. He had made headlines when as Superintendent of Patiala jail he declined to carry out the death sentence awarded to Beant Singh assassin BS Rajoana.