The Jharkhand High Court today granted bail to a woman inmate lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail, amid an ongoing controversy over allegations of sexual exploitation inside the prison premises.
The inmate, who was originally arrested in connection with brown sugar smuggling case, had accused jail officials of sexually exploiting her during her stay in custody. The allegations triggered widespread political and administrative uproar across the state.
A bench of Justice Rangon Mukhopadhyay heard the matter on Tuesday and granted bail after considering arguments from both sides. Advocates Tanu Kumari and Ramesh Kumar appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
The allegations were earlier taken seriously by the District Legal Services Authority and the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority, both of which initiated inquiries into the matter. However, the findings of the investigation have not yet been made public officially.
The controversy deepened after reports emerged that the inmate had allegedly become pregnant following sexual exploitation, leading to demands for a judicial probe from opposition parties and social organisations. The matter also reportedly reached the office of the Governor.
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The inquiry was initiated after Justice S.N. Prasad took suo motu cognisance of the allegations and directed an investigation. Following the court’s order, a committee constituted under the supervision of JHALSA Secretary Kumari Ranjana visited the jail premises and recorded the inmate’s statement in a closed-door session.
According to sources, the inmate accused the jail superintendent and jailer of misusing their authority and subjecting her to sexual exploitation inside the prison.
The issue gained further political attention after Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi wrote to Chief Minister Hemant Soren demanding a judicial inquiry and strict action against those responsible.
While jail authorities denied allegations that the inmate was pregnant and claimed medical reports were negative, opposition leaders and activists questioned the credibility of the findings and alleged attempts to suppress the matter.
Sources indicate that the inquiry report may be submitted to JHALSA in a sealed envelope. If the allegations are confirmed in the final report, the case could raise serious concerns regarding prison administration and inmate safety in Jharkhand.
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