NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday said it had filed an FIR in connection with the death of a prisoner, who was allegedly thrashed to death by rival inmates in Tihar Jailin May this year. The FIR was filed after Delhi High Court passed an order on the plea filed by the mother of the deceased last week.
Earlier, the cops from Hari Nagar Police Station had carried out an investigation into the incident and had “rearrested” four accused in the case, who had been in judicial custody in Tihar Jail.
“CBI has taken over the said case and an investigation is under way,” said RC Joshi, CBI spokesperson.
An undertrial prisoner, Srikant Swami, who was lodged in jail number 4, was arrested on charges of dacoity, robbery and attempted murder.
On May 14, a brawl was reported inside the cell, following which Swami was assaulted by other inmates. The jail guards later intervened, and Swami was taken to a hospital, but was declared dead at Safdarjung Hospital.
Swami’s mother had filed a plea before the high court, requesting an investigation into her son’s death. It came on record during the inquiry that most of the CCTVs on the jail premises were not functional, hence, the alleged assault was not caught on camera.
The family of the deceased had alleged involvement of jail officials into the murder, which CBI would investigate. Next week, CBI is expected to record the statements of the jail superintendent and the guards who were on duty on the day of the incident.
