One of the accused in the murder at Tihar Jail is infamous for extortion from fellow prisoners and was once linked with a jailed accomplice of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Satpal Bedi is serving a life sentence, and has also spent time at Rohini Jail in outer Delhi. According to sources, Satpal was arrested on the basis of an FIR filed with Hari Nagar police station in west Delhi. He was initially sent to Tihar Jail, but was shifted to Rohini Jail on his complaints of constant threats from Dawood’s accomplice Romesh Sharma, with whom he earlier had links.

Romesh is serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend and is also linked to extortion calls made on Dawood’s behalf. However, the harassment continued at Rohini Jail. In 2010, Satpal filed another application in court alleging torture by a jail superintendent, the ward in-charge and other inmates.

He claimed it was also done on the orders of Romesh and sought transfer to some other jail. “Satpal had claimed that kamina was branded on his back by two jail officers using a mosquito coil at Romesh's behest,” said the source.

Considering the application, the court had ordered a medical examination. The medical examination confirmed that Satpal had received burns on his back. On the basis of his application, Satpal was then shifted back to Tihar Jail. Since then, Satpal formed his own gang of extortionists due to which he was shifted to the high-security ward. Criminals who regularly violate the prison norms or get aggressive are kept in the ward.   

‘Biggest extortion ring’

“Tihar Jail may boast of foolproof security, but it is believed that Romesh is behind the biggest extortion ring or bladebaaz gang,” sources said. The prisoners who refuse to pay or complain are attacked with surgical blades.

On August 9, a prisoner had also allegedly committed suicide and blamed jail officers for his death. Police had found a suicide note. In the note, the victim, Sandeep, had blamed the jail officers for harassing and demanding money from him, forcing him to take the extreme step.
DH News Service