'Extremely Disconcerting': Delhi High Court Orders Preservation Of CCTV Footage After Life Convict Alleges Assault By Tihar Jail Warden

The Delhi High Court has directed preservation and production of CCTV footage and ordered the personal appearance of a Tihar Jail Head Warden after a convict serving life sentence there alleged that he was physically assaulted in custody and denied medical treatment. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 670]A division bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan passed the directions while hearing an application moved by Ashish alias Vicky, in his appeal against conviction in a POCSO case, seeking bail, interim suspension of sentence and immediate medical examination.The appellant, who is lodged in Central Jail No. 3, Tihar, alleged that on June 26, 2026, between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., Head Warden Sagar physically assaulted him, causing serious injuries to his hand. He further claimed that the warden had previously demanded illegal "protection money" and that the assault took place after he expressed his inability to meet the demand.According to the plea, despite repeatedly seeking medical assistance, the appellant had not received adequate treatment and continued to suffer pain and swelling in his hands. He also sought directions for preservation of CCTV footage from the concerned barracks and adjoining areas, apprehending that the footage could be overwritten.Appearing for the appellant, counsel submitted that the convict had sustained serious injuries and suspected that his hand had been fractured. It was also submitted that two other inmates were assaulted during the same incident.Observing that the allegations, if true, were "extremely disconcerting", the Court ordered that the CCTV footage relating to the incident be preserved and produced before the Court on the next date of hearing. The Court further ordered Head Warden to remain personally present and file a comprehensive report setting out his version of events and the present medical condition of the appellant and the other inmates.The Court also directed the Jail Medical Officer to furnish a complete report regarding the medical examination, treatment and care provided to the appellant, including details of any diagnostic tests conducted.Further, the Court ordered that the appellant and the two other inmates allegedly injured in the incident be produced before the Medical Superintendent of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital on the same day for an independent medical examination and report. The Jail Superintendent was also directed to file a response to the allegations in a sealed cover.The matter is now listed on July 29.Appearance: Mr. Digant Mishra, Ms. Kashmira Lambat, Mr. Abhinav Deshwal, Ms. Zainab Siddiqui, Mr. Sahir Gahlot, Mr Dipankar Singh and Ms. Anshul Rajora, Advocate for Appellant; Mr. Ritesh Kumar Bahri, APP with Ms. Divya Yadav & Mr. Lalit Luthra, Advs. for RespondentCase title: Ashish Alies Vicky v. StateCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 670Case no.: CRL.A. 1562/2025Click here to read order

'Extremely Disconcerting': Delhi High Court Orders Preservation Of CCTV Footage After Life Convict Alleges Assault By Tihar Jail Warden

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'Extremely Disconcerting': Delhi High Court Orders Preservation Of CCTV Footage After Life Convict Alleges Assault By Tihar Jail Warden

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