SC orders shifting ex-Unitech bosses Sanjay, Ajay Chandra from Tihar jail to Mumbai prisons

It directed that Delhi Police Commissioner personally hold inquiry forthwith about the conduct of Tihar Jail staff with regard to Chandras

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered immediate shifting of promoters of real estate company Unitech Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra from Tihar jail to Arthur road jail and Taloja jail in Mumbai respectively, expressing serious displeasure over the charge that they are operating from the prison.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah directed that both the accused would not be provided with any kind of additional facility in the Arthur road jail and Taloja jail.

The court also pulled up the Tihar Jail authorities for "shamelessly" acting in connivance with Unitech Directors Sanjay Chandra and Ajay Chandra in engaging in illegal activities by flouting the jail manual, rules and statute, "dissipating proceedings, and derailing the investigation in the case".

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The court also directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to start a detailed inquiry forthwith against the concerned Tihar jail officials, who connived with the two accused persons and sought a report within four weeks.

The court passed its order after the Enforcement Directorate alleged two Unitech promoters were found allegedly operating from inside the Tihar jail and they were allegedly carrying out their work and various other transactions from there.

The accused brothers were arrested by the Delhi Police's Economic Offices Wing (EOW) in March 2017 after receiving many complaints of cheating and duping homebuyers.

The Patiala House Court had in 2015 passed the order of registering the FIR (First Information Report) against the Chandras.

The FIR was registered after a complaint filed by a homebuyer in connection with the Anthea project in Gurugram. Several homebuyers approached the police after flats were not handed over to them within the stipulated deadline despite having paid money to the company.