The ongoing scandal involving custodial abuses at Vellore Central Prison has ignited a major controversy, spotlighting alleged gross human rights violations within the tamil Nadu prison system. The case initially drew public attention in september when a criminal complaint implicated Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons R. Rajalakshmi, Additional Superintendent Abdul Rahman, and other officials, accusing them of exploiting prisoners for personal domestic work and subjecting them to physical abuse. This abuse was reportedly exposed following a petition from the mother of S. Sivakumar, a life sentence inmate, who alleged that her son had been illegally confined in solitary for 90 days and falsely accused of theft from the DIG’s residence.
Further investigation by the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) North revealed startling details: convicts were reportedly treated as "slaves" and assigned household duties at the residence of high-ranking prison officials, a blatant violation of the Prison Manual Rules, 1983. An inquiry by the Vellore judicial magistrate corroborated these allegations, uncovering a pattern of coercive exploitation, with prisoners effectively used as housemaids over extended periods.
The controversy escalated on october 6, when 14 additional officials were suspended, including the DIG's personal security officer, seven constables, two prison wardens, and two female constables, suggesting widespread collusion. Public outcry continues to grow, demanding accountability and reforms to prevent abuse of power in tamil Nadu’s correctional facilities, while the state government faces mounting pressure to address systemic misconduct and enforce stricter regulations.
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