Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of over 43,000 calls made from two specific mobile phones within Ferozepur Central Jail. Following this, the court emphasized its commitment to supporting officials involved in providing shelter to drug smugglers within the prison. Their involvement in the matter was unmistakable. 

Justice NS Shekhawat, directing the Punjab Special DG of Internal Security to appear in the court for the next hearing, underlined the seriousness of the situation. Justice Shekhawat also rapped the state special operation cell (SSOC) for apparent failure to supervise the investigation. The admonition came after a specific query was put to the state counsel on questions posed to two accused on jail officials’ involvement in a matter as a “drug racket was being run from Ferozepur Central Jail”.

Justice Shekhawat emphasized that the FIR in question had been filed on March 28, followed by the arrest of two individuals and their subsequent police remand. However, it was evident that the interrogations did not include inquiries about the potential involvement of jail officials. The investigating officer seemed to have actively tried to protect the culpable jail officials. Surprisingly, over the past nine months, the SSOC in Fazilka made no efforts to identify or investigate the identities of the involved jail officials in this case.

Justice Shekhawat highlighted from the affidavit submitted by the Additional Director-General of Police, Prisons, that three inmates in the jail were provided with phones and SIM cards by their co-accused. Specifically, one mobile phone was continuously active in Ferozepur Central Jail from March 1, 2019, to March 31, 2019, generating a staggering 38,850 calls from that location. Another mobile remained operational within the jail from October 9, 2021, to February 14 of the following year, resulting in 4,582 calls made using that number.

“Several other mobile numbers also remained active during this period and hundreds of calls were made from the jail by the persons involved in the drug racket. Surprisingly, the SSOC, Fazilka, is conducting the investigation for the past nine months and the investigation is not making any headway. It is apparent that not only jail officials, but officials of the SSOC, Fazilka, have also colluded with the accused named in the present case,” Justice Shekhawat asserted.

Before concluding the matter, Justice Shekhawat pointed out that the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) was established specifically to handle special crimes within the state. However, it was "shockingly" observed that there was a lack of supervision in the investigations conducted by the Fazilka SSOC and even by higher-ranking officers at the state level. The Bench also acknowledged an assurance given by ADGP Prisons, Arun Pal, regarding the ongoing inquiry against the implicated jail officials, affirming that it would be diligently pursued to its rightful conclusion.