A shocking racket operating within Delhi's Tihar Jail, where relatives of inmates were allegedly forced to pay for meetings that are legally free, has been exposed. The scam was uncovered after an inmate's tip-off triggered a covert operation by the prison's intelligence wing, leading to the immediate transfer of 20 to 25 data entry operators.
How the 'Pay-for-Meetings' Scam Operated
The issue came to light when the intelligence unit received specific information that a prisoner's relative was charged money to book a mulakat (meeting). Preliminary checks confirmed the allegation: the meeting had been arranged via a phone call, not through the official free process.
To trap the culprits, intelligence officials themselves posed as inmates' relatives and called the number being used for the illicit bookings. The person who answered the call explicitly demanded money in exchange for arranging the visit, confirming the malpractice.
Investigations revealed that the perpetrator had gained unauthorized access to the login credentials required for the jail's official booking system. These credentials are used to schedule both physical meetings and video conferences between inmates and their families on the National Prisons Information Portal.
System Exploited and Immediate Fallout
Officials believe that touts operating outside the jail premises took advantage of the system. Boards advertising "home-based booking" services were reportedly displayed around the jail complex, offering to arrange meetings via phone. These boards have since been removed.
While the identity of the person whose credentials were misused is still under investigation, the jail administration took pre-emptive action. As many as 25 data entry operators working at the Central Public Relations Offices (CPROs) were transferred to other office postings within Tihar to prevent further potential misuse during the probe. Existing office staff were moved to handle the CPRO duties.
An official clarified that the legitimate process, known as tele-booking, uses a toll-free number. Data entry operators at CPROs are supposed to log into the portal and allot time slots for relatives without any charge.
Long-term Reforms and Scale of Operations
In response to the breach, the jail's IT department has been directed to introduce biometric authentication linked to login IDs and passwords. Currently, operators only need a login ID, but the new system will require all three credentials for access, significantly enhancing security.
The scale of visits at Tihar is massive. Official data shows that from January 1 to December 20 this year, a total of 402,310 physical meetings and 64,017 video conference visits were conducted across the jail complex.
A jail official credited the intelligence wing staff for curbing the malpractice. A thorough investigation is ongoing to determine how long the racket had been operational and who all were involved.
