Overview

• On May 27, Faridabad jail officials mistakenly released 27-year-old Nitesh Pandey, who was charged under the POCSO Act for allegedly raping a nine-year-old boy, in place of another inmate granted bail.
• Authorities registered an FIR on May 28 at Ballabhgarh Sadar police station under Sections 262 (obstructing lawful apprehension) and 319 (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
• Five staff members—including an assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, head constable and two wardens—were suspended on May 31 for negligence in identity verification.
• A Faridabad crime branch team located and arrested Pandey in Kalyanpur village near Patna on May 31, and he has been returned to judicial custody in Faridabad.
• An internal inquiry ordered by the jail superintendent is examining procedural lapses and potential insider collusion in the mistaken release.