Hoshiarpur, July 5: A Deputy Superintendent of the Central Jail in Hoshiarpur has been arrested in connection with the investigation into a purported video recorded by a gangster from inside the prison that recently went viral on social media, police said on Sunday.
Harbhajan Singh, posted as Deputy Superintendent at the Central Jail, was arrested by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Staff during the intervening night of July 4 and 5. His arrest is linked to an FIR registered at the City Police Station, Hoshiarpur, on June 14.
Police said the official has been booked under relevant provisions of the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). However, investigators have not yet disclosed the specific allegations or evidence that led to his arrest.
The case relates to a purported video recorded by Manpreet Singh alias Manna, a resident of Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district, who is currently lodged in the Central Jail, Hoshiarpur. The video surfaced on social media on June 14.
In the video, the gangster alleged harassment by jail staff, demanded action over alleged extortion, and claimed narcotics were easily available inside the prison. He also accused some jail personnel of assaulting inmates and appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to introduce reforms in the state’s prison system and provide inmates with opportunities for rehabilitation.
Following the video’s circulation, prison authorities launched an internal inquiry. During the investigation, police recovered a SIM-less mobile phone from Manpreet Singh’s possession inside the jail.
The incident sparked a political controversy, with opposition leaders questioning the functioning of the prison administration and raising concerns over how a gangster confined in a high-security jail was able to record and circulate a video from inside the facility.
