SC orders shifting of Unitech’s Chandra brothers from Tihar to Mumbai jails

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 26

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered shifting of former Unitech promoters Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra from Tihar Jail in the capital to two separate jails in Mumbai after it was informed that they were flouting its orders in connivance with jail officials.

While describing the conduct of Tihar Jail Superintendent as “shameless”, a Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to personally hold an inquiry into the conduct of Tihar Jail officials in the matter and submit the report in four weeks.

As per the top court’s order, the two brothers will now be shifted to Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail and Taloga Jail.

The order came after two reports of Enforcement Directorate indicted Sanjay and Ajay for flouting the top court’s orders in connivance with Tihar jail officials.

It has raised some “serious and disturbing” issues regarding undermining the court’s authority, the Bench noted.

On behalf of the ED, Additional Solicitor General Madhavi Divan told the Bench the agency has unearthed a “secret underground office” which was being run by erstwhile Unitech founder Ramesh Chandra and visited by his sons Sanjay and Ajay when on parole or bail.

Divan said both Sanjay and Ajay have rendered the entire judicial custody meaningless as they have been freely communicating, instructing their officials and disposing of properties from inside the jail in connivance with the prison staff there.

The top court had on August 14 last year cancelled Sanjay’s interim bail and dismissed Ajay’s bail application. They have been in jail since August 2017. In June this year, Sanjay was, however, granted 15-day interim bail to attend the last rites of his father-in-law.

The two brothers are accused of siphoning homebuyers’ money. The criminal case relates to complaints filed by home buyers of Unitech projects’ — “Wild Flower Country” and “Anthea Project” — located in Gurugram.