New Delhi: A 24-year-old undertrial facing murder charges was killed by fellow inmates inside the Saket Court lock-up on Thursday, in what police say was a violent fallout of a long-standing personal feud.
The incident took place around 10 am in cell number 5 of the court’s kharja (holding area), where over 30 inmates were confined. The deceased, identified as Arman, got into a heated argument with another inmate, Jitender, which quickly escalated into a brutal assault. Jitender’s associate, Jaidev, also joined in the attack.
According to a police officer, “Arman was repeatedly punched and kicked, and his head struck the wall during the assault, causing fatal injuries.” He was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
There are also unconfirmed reports suggesting the attackers attempted to strangle Arman by pressing their legs against his neck after he collapsed. These claims are currently under investigation.
A policeman stationed outside the lock-up cell tried to intervene but was delayed by the two-lock security door. “By the time the door was opened, the attack had already caused critical injuries,” said a police source, adding, “The entire incident lasted less than a minute.”
The same source noted that the attackers and the victim had already exchanged words earlier that morning while being transported from Tihar Jail to court.
Police believe the attack was rooted in an incident from 2024, when Arman allegedly stabbed Jitender and his brother during an altercation. The animosity appears to have persisted since then.
All three individuals were inmates of Tihar’s Jail No. 8 at the time of the incident. Arman had been incarcerated since 2017 in connection with a murder case from Govindpuri. Jitender, with multiple robbery and snatching charges from New Friends Colony, was shifted to Tihar in April this year. Jaidev, facing charges in a robbery case from Ambedkar Nagar, had been lodged since December 13, 2024. Arman was initially kept in Jail No. 5 but transferred to No. 8 in 2020.
A police official noted that the court lock-up is divided into several rooms across two floors, each holding 30–40 inmates. “Typically, known rivals are not placed together. Cells are opened only in the presence of adequate police personnel to prevent inmates from overpowering the staff,” the officer said.
Dhir Singh Kasana, former secretary of the Saket Bar Association, called the incident a serious lapse in security. “This highlights systemic flaws. The judiciary must increase the use of video conferencing for undertrial hearings. A thorough investigation is needed into how and why known rivals were kept together,” he said.
Police have launched an inquiry into the security breach and the chain of events leading to the fatal assault.
