What happened: Delhi’s proposal for inter-State transfer of high-risk undertrials and prisoners

The Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi is planning inter-State transfers of undertrial gangsters, organized criminals, and other high-risk prisoners from Delhi’s jails to prisons in other States. The reported aim is to reduce organized crime and improve prison security by limiting the ability of hardened criminals to run criminal activities from custody.

According to a Chief Minister’s Office statement, Delhi’s security concern is linked to the presence of hardened criminals in jail custody. The statement also connects custody with alleged ongoing influence over trials through actions such as targeting victims, extortion, threats, criminal conspiracies, influencing witnesses, and expanding criminal networks.

Delhi’s statement projects a practical control benefit: transferring some high-risk undertrials and prisoners outside Delhi is expected to reduce their access to local networks, thereby lowering interference with ongoing trial processes.

Delhi’s stated jail-connected gang footprint is 188 members across 26 identified gangs.

Background and earlier position: legal limits on prisoner transfers

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