India: Convicts, undertrial prisoners released during pandemic return to Delhi jails after SC order

Tihar jail

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) Several convicts and undertrial prisoners who were granted emergency bail or parole during the COVID-19 pandemic returned to Delhi's jails on Friday after the Supreme Court directed them to surrender.

Bajrang Saini, who came to Tihar jail to drop off his two brothers, said, “My brothers were arrested in a murder case around five years ago. They came out of the jail in 2021 and were engaged in private jobs." "We are hoping that the case will end in the near future and they will be able to start their lives afresh. We know that they are not criminals. They committed the crime in anger," Saini said.

The Supreme Court on March 24 directed that all convicts and undertrial prisoners, who were released during the COVID-19 pandemic in a move to decongest jails, to surrender within 15 days.