Desi ghee, Rs 7,500 cash, expensive toiletries: More Lalitpur officials face action over former MP Rizwan Zaheer’s 'VIP' treatment in jail

LUCKNOW: Three days after former MP Rizwan Zaheer was found enjoying VIP treatment during a surprise inspection at Lalitpur District Jail, more jail officials have come under the scanner as the prison department intensifies its crackdown on rule violations.On Wednesday, Deputy Jailor Jai Narayan Bharti was suspended and departmental proceedings were initiated, while department action was also initiated against Jailor Jeevan Singh.A recommendation for disciplinary proceedings against Lalitpur Jail Superintendent Mukesh Kumar has been forwarded to the state government.Earlier, Head Warders Virendra Shah and Rajendra Prasad, along with Warder Rajnesh Yadav, were suspended for their alleged involvement in enabling VIP privileges.To recall, an inspection, on June 1 was carried out by District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Secretary Mayank Jaiswal, had exposed glaring irregularities in Zaheer’s high-security barrack, where banned and luxury items were recovered, including a Dunlop mattress, branded food items like desi ghee, sweets, and pickles, expensive toiletries, cooking oil, a battery-operated fan, and Rs 7,500 in cash hidden under his pillow.The presence of high-end crockery and reports of specially prepared VIP meals further deepened concerns.Following the disclosure, Additional Inspector General (Prisons) Dharmendra Singh ordered a fact-finding report by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Prisons, Kanpur Range. Based on the report, departmental action has now been taken against multiple officers.Superintendent Mukesh Kumar, in his defense, claimed that Zaheer, a heart patient, had been advised a soft mattress by doctors and maintained that the cash recovered amounted to ₹7,500 only.Rizwan Zaheer, a former Samajwadi Party MP from Balrampur and a history-sheeter from Harraiya, has been in judicial custody since July 2022 in connection with the murder conspiracy of former Tulshipur Nagar Panchayat chairman Firoz Ahmad alias Pappu. He faces 14 serious charges, including murder, attempt to murder, Arms Act violations, and cases under the Gangster Act.The widening action against jail officials has once again brought to light the zero tolerance on corruption by DG Prisons PC Meena.