Three Varanasi district jail officials suspended for prisoner’s release on fake papers

Lucknow: UP govt on Tuesday suspended three senior prison officials following the fraudulent release of an inmate from the Varanasi district jail.
The suspended officials include then jail superintendent Umesh Singh, jailer Rajesh Kumar, and then deputy jailer Meena Kanojia. The action comes in response to the release of inmate Sunil Kumar alias Sunil Chaudhary — who was in jail on charges of fraud and cybercrime — through forged documents.
The preliminary investigation conducted by the DIG, Prisons, Varanasi, found that these officials blatantly violated jail manuals and departmental protocols, enabling the unlawful release. The inquiry report confirmed their direct involvement, leading to immediate suspension and the launch of disciplinary proceedings.
Prison Minister Dara Singh Chauhan, taking serious note of the incident, stated, "The Yogi government is unwavering in its zero-tolerance approach toward corruption and administrative lapses. Such negligence, especially in a sensitive institution like a jail, will not be tolerated. Strict action is being ensured against the guilty."