Magisterial inquiry may scan jail CCTV footage

Footage of a Tihar Jail CCTV camera will be available for scrutiny during a magisterial inquiry ordered into the alleged suicide Monday by the main accused of the Dec 16, 2012 gang-rape case, a prison official said.

Ram Singh allegedly killed himself in his cell in ward number 5 of Tihar Jail number 3.

"The ward number 5 has a single CCTV camera. The scrutiny of the footage captured by the camera may help in the magisterial inquiry," said a Tihar official.

The official, on condition of anonymity, told IANS that there were a total of 258 CCTV cameras in Tihar. "Only one camera was installed in ward number 5 where Ram Singh was found hanging 5.45 a.m. Monday," said the official.

"As the camera was not installed inside the cell of Ram Singh, it would not have captured the events in his cell early Monday or Sunday night. But, it might provide some link to the case," said the official.