IN A ruling Special Judge (PC Act) and First Additional Sessions Judge Raipur, Neeraj Sharma, has dismissed the plea filed by the Superintendent of Central Jail, Raipur, seeking the transfer of undertrial accused Suryakant Tiwari alias SKT to Ambikapur Jail. SKT, a key accused in the Rs 570 crore coal levy scam, remains confined under judicial custody at Raipur Jail. This development comes in the backdrop of a previous court order dated September 13, 2024, by Special Court Judge Manoj Kumar Singh, who directed preservation of CCTV footage from September 8, 2024, based on a complaint by Tiwari. He alleged that State Economic Offences Investigation and AntiCorruption Bureau (SEOIACB) Director and Raipur Range IGP Amresh Mishra tampered with key evidence during a jail visit under Rule 814 of the Jail Manual. The court considered the footage essential to determine whether procedural impropriety occurred and ordered it preserved for review. The judicial rebuke has drawn political attention.

 

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a post, said, “Jails are being turned into political arenas,” referencing how elected MPs were initially barred from meeting inmates in Durg. He claimed similar political bias was being exercised in Raipur Jail. The jail’s application-supported by Deputy Director Prosecution Suman Ekka-alleged Tiwari threatened discipline and security. Incidents cited included a verbal clash during a July 20 inspection and an earlier case involving inmate Nikhil Chandrakar, who alleged threats before being shifted to Dhamtari Jail. Officials claimed Tiwari obstructed internal operations and influenced other inmates.

 

Tiwari’s legal team headed by Faizal Rizvi submitted a detailed rebuttal, denying all allegations and stating no contraband was recovered. They claimed Tiwari merely intervened when former minister Kawasi Lakhma’s barrack was searched, asking officials to avoid unnecessary humiliation. They also said the jail administration retaliated by restricting visitation for 15 days without allowing a response. Medical records were also submitted, stating Tiwari suffers from hypertension and needs uninterrupted medication and access to legal counsel. With multiple matters pending before courts and tax forums, the defence argued that transfer would severely affect his right to fair trial. The court, after examining memoranda dated July 23 and 29, defence reply, and applicable rules, concluded that no urgent security threat or institutional disorder was established. The request to transfer Tiwari was therefore denied. The court, however, permitted the jail to act under the jail manual should future violations occur.