CBI Seeks Sanction To File FIR Against Satyendar Jain, Ex-DG Prisons In 'Extortion' Matter

Jain and Goel have been accused of extorting crores of rupees from high-profile prisoners, including Sukesh Chandrashekhar, in return for a comfortable life in jail.

CBI has sought permission from the government to file an FIR against Satyendar Jain.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission from the government to file an FIR against the former Jail Minister Satyendar Jain and former director general of prisons Sandeep Goel in an extortion case, officials said Monday.

Jain and Goel have been accused of extorting crores of rupees from high-profile prisoners, including Sukesh Chandrashekhar, in return for a comfortable life in jail, reported news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that CBI based its entire inquiry against Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Sukesh Chandrasekhar's statement - "biggest thug and conman of India," considering him as "true Satywadi Harishchandra."

"This is nothing but a mockery of law. AAP categorically denies any association, communication let alone any money transaction between Mr Jain and Sukesh Chandrasekhar or any of his associates," said AAP in a statement on Monday.

The central probe agency has requested sanction against Jain and jail officer Raj Kumar to the office of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, while for suspended IPS Goel and retired IAS Mukesh Prasad, it has approached the Union Home Ministry.

The CBI needs the sanction before filing an FIR or a case against a public servant under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The probe agency said they have "source information" that Jain, Goel, Prasad, and Kumar were extorting crores of rupees from various "high-profile prisoners", including Chandrashekhar facing charges of duping a large number of people, to enable them to live comfortably in prison, as reported by PTI.

"They worked as a syndicate for the same," the CBI alleged in its letter to Saxena.

In the letter, CBI alleged that Jain "extorted and received Rs 10 crore from jail inmate Chandrashekhar in various tranches during 2018-21 either himself or through his accomplices, as protection money," to enable the alleged conman to live a peaceful and comfortable life in jail.

Chandrashekhar is lodged in a jail here on charges of money laundering and duping several people.

"Goel and Mukesh Prasad also extorted and received Rs 12.50 crore from jail inmate Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The amounts were extorted and received by them in various tranches during 2019-22 either themselves or through their accomplices, as protection money, to enable inmate Sukesh Chandrashekhar to live peacefully and comfortably in jail," it alleged, reported PTI.

The extortion was also carried out by Goel and Prasad from "other high-profile prisoners lodged in jail as protection money" to allow them to live in jail safely and comfortably, the agency alleged. 

The probe agency further alleged that Jain, Goel, Prasad, and Kumar "misused their official positions" as public servants and "extended undue favour and advantage" to Chandrashekhar and other high-profile inmates in the jails of Delhi "in lieu of valuable considerations from the inmates."