Inmate at Delhi’s Tihar jail commits suicide hours after being convicted in robbery case

In a shocking incident that unfolded at the Tihar Central jail, a 26-year-old inmate reportedly committed suicide shortly after being convicted in a seven-year-old robbery case by a Delhi court. The man, known as Jawed, appeared in court on Monday and was later found hanging in a jail bathroom. According to his fellow inmates, Jawed had been struggling with “deep depression” following his conviction.

Details of cases filed against the deceased inmate

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The director general (prisons), Sanjay Baniwal, confirmed that Jawed had been found guilty in a 2016 robbery case registered at Delhi's Malviya Nagar police station. The conviction came from the court of Additional Sessions judge-2 (fast track court) south.

Watch:The perks of an extended spring this year in Delhi

Jawed was charged under Sections 392 (punishment for robbery), 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 27 of the Arms Act. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Ghanshyam Bansal provided details of the case, explaining that it was filed against Jawed back in 2016 at the Malviya Nagar Police Station.

Jawed declared “brought dead” by jail doctors

Upon discovery of Jawed's lifeless body, he was immediately rushed to the jail hospital where the doctors declared him "brought dead." Sanjay Baniwal shared the account provided by the security officials, stating that Jawed had used a cloth to hang himself from a tap in the bathroom of the enclosure formulahiza inmates(first-time offenders) at around 5 pm.

Also Read |Delhi weather update: Heatwave conditions to persist; mercury reaches 46 degrees, light rain forecast

The method employed involved a thick cord created by twisting together multiple thinner clothes. Due to the absence of CCTV surveillance in the Tihar bathrooms and toilets, the incident went unnoticed.

Delhi Court notified about the case

Baniwal further revealed that the Delhi court had been notified about the distressing event, prompting a fresh judiciary investigation into the matter. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Mayank Goyal was informed and instructed to conduct proceedings under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). This section empowers the magistrate to initiate an inquiry into the cause of death in police custody.

Data on suicides in Delhi jails

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2019, eight cases of suicide were reported across various facilities, including Tihar, Mandoli, and Rohini. The number rose to ten in 2020, and though there was a slight decline, eight cases were still reported in 2021.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE