Birthday parties & luxury cells: Cash-for-comfort racket exposed in Ludhiana Jail

A senior jail official faces suspension for allegedly selling luxury cell assignments.

LUDHIANA: The suspension of a senior Central Jail official on the charges of selling luxury-cell assignments underscores a persistent cycle of corruption and systemic misconduct within Punjab's penal system.Additional jail superintendent Balvir Singh was suspended following allegations that he took cash bribes ranging between ₹2 lakh and ₹4 lakh from individuals to place 11 GST-fraud undertrials in superior barracks.The disciplinary action follows an investigation that AIG headquarters Rajesh Kumar had conducted into an official complaint from the prison department.

Balvir Singh faces charges under sections 7 and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 52-A of the Prisons Act.The suspension order reads: "In view of the seriousness of the allegations and the disciplinary proceeding contemplated against him, Balvir Singh is placed under suspension with immediate effect."Superintendent Kulwant Singh Sidhu confirmed the action, stating: "The FIR followed by suspension was done after an inquiry. I don't have much details about it as I was on leave that day."A Ludhiana police officer said: "In the complaint received from the prison department, the official is accused of accepting varying amounts in cash from the 11 individuals."

TOI tried to contact Balvir Singh, but his mobile phone was switched off.This incident marks the latest in a series of administrative failures at the facility. On July 1, 2025, a deputy jail superintendent was suspended for chronic absenteeism after failing to report for duty or appear before a medical board.Another deputy superintendent was suspended for insubordination, unauthorised leave approvals, and issuing official identification improperly.

A warder was suspended after being caught attempting to smuggle 60g of cannabis into the prison.On June 26, 2021, an assistant jail superintendent, a head warder, and a warder were suspended, and an officer in charge of the cells was transferred, following an inquiry into video footage that showed inmates as they smoked a hookah inside the jail.In Jan 2024, 10-to-15 inmates at the Ludhiana Central Jail hosted a birthday party inside their barracks, recording and uploading a video that went viral.The birthday boy, undertrial Arun Kumar 'Mani Rana', was accused in a 2019 robbery case. Two deputy superintendents were arrested after investigations revealed they had also taken bribes to help smuggle mobile phones and contraband into the jail.