Sexual Abuse Allegations by Undertrial Prisoner at Birsa Munda Jail; Departmental Probe Launched

Ranchi: Serious allegations of sexual abuse have emerged from Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Central Jail, where an undertrial prisoner has accused several people of sexually assaulting him. Following the registration of an FIR, the Jharkhand Jail Department has initiated a separate departmental inquiry to investigate the allegations and examine possible lapses in prison security.

Acting on the directions of Jail Inspector General Sudarshan Mandal, a team of officials visited Birsa Munda Central Jail to investigate the matter. The team is headed by Director Gyan Shankar Jaiswal and includes Probation Officer Chandra Mouli Singh and other officials.

The departmental inquiry will not be limited to the alleged incidents. Investigators will also examine the jail’s security and surveillance arrangements during the relevant period and assess whether the officials concerned discharged their responsibilities properly.

According to the FIR registered at Khelgaon police station, the undertrial prisoner was allegedly subjected to unnatural sexual acts on three occasions between January 2026 and June 12, 2026. The complaint further alleges that he was given an intoxicating substance before the incidents.

The FIR names 14 individuals, including some jail officials and people allegedly linked to criminal gangs. However, all the allegations remain unverified, and the role of those named has not yet been established.

The investigation is expected to focus on how the alleged incidents could have taken place inside the prison premises, whether the authorities had any prior knowledge and whether there were lapses in security or supervision. Jail records and information relating to the movement and activities of inmates during the period will also be examined.

Both the police and the Jail Department are conducting investigations independently. While the police will examine the allegations from a legal perspective, the departmental team will focus on the functioning of the prison administration and accountability for any possible security lapses.

The allegations have raised serious questions about inmate safety and the effectiveness of security arrangements at the state's central prison. The findings of the two investigations are expected to establish the facts and clarify the role, if any, of those named in the FIR.

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