Jaipur Jail Scandal: Inmates Bribe Officials To Turn Hospital Trips Into Secret Reunions With Wives, Girlfriends

The prisoners identified as Bhanwar Lal, Rafiq Bakri, Ankit Bansal, and Karan Gupta had reportedly obtained permissions for medical checkups at SMS Hospital. 

Representational Image | Thirteen people were arrested in Jaipur after Central Jail's prisoners bribed officials for unauthorised city outings, enjoying hotels and meeting relatives instead of medical appointments.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Thirteen individuals, including five police constables, four inmates, and four of their relatives, were arrested on Sunday after it was revealed that the prisoners had reportedly paid bribes to spend several hours outside Jaipur Central Jail in Rajasthan, police said on Monday.

According to a report by the news agency PTI, the inmates identified as Bhanwar Lal, Rafiq Bakri, Ankit Bansal, and Karan Gupta had reportedly obtained permissions for medical checkups at SMS Hospital. 

However, rather than attending their appointments, they allegedly used bribes to spend a relaxed day in the city, enjoying poha breakfast, hotel stays, and time with their wives and girlfriends. Only one inmate reached the hospital, and none of the remaining four returned to jail by the 5:30 pm Saturday deadline, police added.

"This outing was arranged for around Rs 25,000, routed through a middleman. The escorting constables were promised Rs 5,000 each," a senior officer involved in the investigation stated.

DCP (East) Tejaswani Gautam confirmed that Rafiq and Bhanwar met their wife and ex-girlfriend at a Jalupura hotel respectively. Later, the wife of Rafiq was found with narcotics and was booked under the NDPS Act.

Outing Was Planned By Convicted Extortionist: Sources

Other inmates, Ankit and Karan, were seen having poha for breakfast at a hotel near the airport, and the room was booked by the girlfriend of Ankit. Later, the relative of Karan was detained after he was found carrying Rs 45,000 in cash along with several inmate ID cards at one of the hotels.

Jail sources indicated that the outing was planned by a convicted extortionist who is still operating from inside the jail. Further reports by the investigators revealed that more than 200 phone calls have been intercepted since April, which has discovered a deeper and wider network of bribes, unauthorised mobile use, and alleged threats to VIPs, including Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.

Following the development, a case has been filed at the Sawai Man Singh Police Station, and a probe has been launched in the Jaipur Central Jail, the police further added.