Background of the Case
The Supreme Court on January 6 granted bail to former Deputy Superintendent of Tihar Jail, Narendra Meena, who was accused in connection with the custodial death of undertrial prisoner Ankit Gujjar. The incident occurred on August 4, 2021, when Gujjar, a 29-year-old gangster, was found dead inside Tihar Jail. It was alleged that Meena and other jail officials had brutally assaulted Gujjar on August 3, 2021, and denied him medical attention, leading to his death. Further allegations included attempts to extort money from Gujjar’s relatives.
Charges and Suspensions
Following the incident, Meena, along with three other jail officials, was suspended. The accused were charged under Sections 304 and 323 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. A judicial order transferred the investigation from Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in September 2021.
Delhi High Court’s Rejection of Bail
Meena’s bail plea was earlier denied by the Delhi High Court on September 26, 2024. The High Court observed the gravity of the offences and noted that Meena could potentially influence witnesses or tamper with evidence. The court emphasized that the post-mortem report revealed multiple ante-mortem injuries on Gujjar’s body and upheld the trial court’s findings, stating that societal interest outweighed the liberty of the accused.
Supreme Court’s Decision
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal overturned the Delhi High Court’s decision and granted bail to Meena, citing a delay in trial by the CBI. The Court also considered the lack of evidence showing that Meena had caused delays in the trial proceedings.
Case Details
Case Title: Narender Meena v. Central Bureau of Investigation
Diary No.: 45425-2024
This decision marks a significant development in the custodial death case and highlights the Court’s consideration of trial delays in granting bail.
