Top prison official moved days after allegations against jailed AAP minister

New Delhi, Nov 04: Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel has been transferred from the Tihar Jail here, days after jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar alleged extortion of Rs 10 crore for protection in prison.

According to an official order issued on Friday, the 1989 batch AGMUT cadre officer has been transferred from Tihar Jail and asked to report to PHQ for further orders.

"Sanjay Beniwal, the 1989 batch IPS officer, is the new DG (Prisons)," it stated, according to news agency PTI.

Chandrashekhar had written to Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena alleging that AAP leader Satyendar Jain "extorted" Rs 10 crore from him in 2019 to ensure his safety in prison.

Chandrashekhar, who is lodged in Mandoli jail here in connection with a Rs 200 crore money laundering case, submitted the letter to the L-G on October 8 through his advocate Ashok K Singh, making the startling allegations against the AAP leader.

The letter said more than Rs 50 crore was given to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on a promise of giving Chandrashekhar an important post in the party in South Zone, and also help him in getting nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Chandrashekhar also alleged that he was visited by Jain in Tihar jail, where he was lodged after his arrest in 2017 in the 'two leaf symbol corruption case'.

Jain, who held the portfolio of the jail ministry, asked him if he had disclosed anything to the probe agency related to his contribution to the AAP, he alleged.

Tihar Jail is run by the Department of Delhi Prisons under the Government of Delhi.

"Thereafter in 2019 again I was visited by Satyendar Jain and his secretary and his close friend Sushil in jail, asking me to pay Rs 2 crore every month to him as protection money to live safely in jail, and to get even basic facilities," he alleged.

"Jain asked me to pay Rs 1.50 crore to DG prison Sandeep Goel, who, he said, was a loyal associate of his. He forced me to pay and an amount of Rs 10 crore was extorted from me through constant pressure in a matter of two-three months," he alleged in the letter.

He also alleged that the amounts were collected in Kolkata through Jain's associates.

"Hence a total amount of Rs 10 crore was paid to Satyendar Jain, and Rs 12.50 crore to DG prison Sandeep Goel," Chandrashekhar alleged and added that he has already given this information to the Enforcement Directorate.