In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has denied bail to Narender Meena, the former Deputy Superintendent of Tihar Jail, implicated in the 2021 death of 29-year-old gangster Ankit Gujjar. The court cited the grave nature of the allegations and the potential for witness tampering as reasons for its decision.
Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, who presided over the hearing, emphasized the severity of the charges against Meena, highlighting concerns that releasing him could lead to influence over witnesses or tampering with crucial evidence. The decision comes amid ongoing investigations into Gujjar’s death, who suffered multiple ante-mortem injuries while in judicial custody—a detail confirmed by his post-mortem report.
The case, which had been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in September 2021, following a judicial directive, has seen claims of trial delays dismissed by the court, attributing no fault to the investigative agency in this regard.
The circumstances surrounding Ankit Gujjar’s death have drawn considerable attention. Found deceased in Tihar Jail on August 4, 2021, allegations surfaced that Meena, along with other jail officials, had beaten him severely the day before his death and subsequently denied him necessary medical care. Further accusations have pointed towards an extortion scheme, alleging that jail officials, including Meena, harassed Gujjar to extract money from his family.
Following these events, four jail officials were suspended, reflecting the severity of the misconduct alleged.
In his ruling, Justice Jain noted that witnesses had reported threats from Meena and other accused, attempting to coerce them into altering their statements. This backdrop of intimidation and alleged corruption framed the court’s decision to deny bail, stressing that the larger societal interest and justice for the victim overshadow the personal liberty of the accused.
