Jaipur: A suspended jail official who had been absconding for nearly two months was arrested in Rajasthan’s Kota on Wednesday for allegedly taking two female inmates out of Ajmer Central Jail without permission and making them clean her private residence, police said.
Divya Chaudhary, the suspended in-charge of Ajmer Central Jail, was traced to a residential flat in Kota and arrested by a team from Ajmer police with assistance from the cyber cell. Police said another accused, jail guard Sonia Chaudhary, is still absconding and efforts are underway to locate her.
According to police, Divya allegedly took the two women, both of whom were serving life sentences for murder, out of the jail on July 12. They were reportedly taken in a private vehicle without court permission and without making the required entry in official jail records.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Shiv Joshi said the two inmates were allegedly taken to Divya’s private flat in Ajmer’s ARG City, where they were made to carry out cleaning work.
Police said taking prisoners outside jail without following the prescribed procedures constituted an offence. After the incident came to light, the inmates were returned to the prison and a report was submitted to senior authorities.
Following the incident, both Divya Chaudhary and Sonia Chaudhary were suspended. Their headquarters were later shifted to Bikaner and Jodhpur respectively. However, police said both officials remained absent from duty for an extended period and allegedly evaded arrest.
A case was registered at Ajmer’s Civil Lines police station on August 5 in connection with the incident. Investigators subsequently began efforts to trace the suspended officials.
Acting on instructions from Ajmer Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwal, a police team began tracking Divya with assistance from the cyber cell. Technical evidence eventually led investigators to a residential flat in Kota, where she was arrested on Wednesday.
Police said the investigation is continuing and authorities are also trying to determine whether there were any other violations of jail procedures connected with the incident.
The case has raised questions over the handling and supervision of prisoners, particularly regarding the movement of inmates outside prison premises. Officials are examining how the two women were taken out of the jail without the necessary permissions or documentation.
The police are now focusing on tracing Sonia Chaudhary, who remains at large. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation and statements recorded from those involved.
The arrested official is expected to face further legal proceedings in connection with the alleged unauthorised removal of prisoners and the subsequent use of the inmates for private work.
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