New Delhi: An incident of custodial violence in Tihar jail is under judicial scrutiny after CCTV footage played before a Delhi court showed some jail officials “pulling a group of undertrial prisoners out of their cell and beating them with dandas” on March 24.
The footage, produced in court by the jail superintendent, prompted additional sessions judge Sonu Agnihotri to question the legality of the force used, observing that it “does not appear to be in accordance with the law”.
While the superintendent admitted that “excess force has been used on the undertrials”, he claimed it was in retaliation for a stone or brick thrown by an inmate from the cell.
Though the court took note of this misconduct by the unidentified inmate, it said that the act had taken place “more than about 30 minutes” before the prisoners were dragged out and thrashed, thus undermining the claim of the officials that force was used for self-defence.
“Undertrial prisoners are in custody of the court... Using excessive force, which is not justified for any misconduct on part of them, should be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the judge noted, adding that such prisoners are entitled to legal protection.
The CCTV footage, submitted in a pen drive, was ordered to be sealed and retained on record to prevent misuse. Further, the court sought a report on the functionality of CCTV cameras installed in the offices of jail superintendents and deputy superintendents in Tihar, in order to further look into the matter. A copy of the order has been sent to director general (prisons) with directions to conduct an inquiry into the incident, fix responsibility on the officials involved, and submit a report to the court before the next date of hearing on May 13, 2026.
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About the Author
Koushiki Saha, a trainee journalist currently reporting for The Times of India, covers urban governance, infrastructure lapses, public grievances, and municipal policies with clarity and compassion. Still learning every day, she draws insights from fieldwork, lived experiences, and holding authorities accountable through persistent, people-focused reporting.
