In an ironic turn of events, a senior prison official in Rajasthan finds herself behind the very bars she once commanded. Suspended jailer Divya Chaudhary was arrested on Wednesday by the Ajmer Police. She faces serious criminal charges for illegally removing two female prisoners from jail barracks to perform personal domestic chores at her private residence.
An investigative report by The Indian Express revealed that the 37-year-old official bypassed official protocol. Chaudhary allegedly deployed a life-term convict and an undertrial prisoner to manage household duties and care for her young daughters. Following her arrest and subsequent court presentation, the judicial magistrate remanded her to the same prison facility where she previously served as warden.
Unauthorized Removal of Inmates from Barracks
The controversy dates back to Chaudhary’s tenure as jailer at the Ajmer Central and Women’s Jail facility. Routine prison regulations strictly prohibit taking incarcerated individuals outside official premises without formal judicial orders or sanctioned medical escorts. Despite these mandates, Chaudhary allegedly escorted two female prisoners out of the compound on multiple occasions.
According to reporting by The Times of India, the prisoners were brought to Chaudhary’s nearby government quarters. The irregular arrangement came to light during an unannounced inspection conducted by senior supervisory officers. A headcount discrepancy in the female barracks triggered an immediate departmental investigation.
Departmental Suspension and Evasion of Arrest
Senior prison authorities acted swiftly once the unauthorized departures were verified. The state government placed Chaudhary under immediate suspension and directed the local police to lodge an official criminal case. Investigators charged her with abuse of official position, illegal confinement, and violation of the Prisons Act.
Realizing that formal arrest was imminent, Chaudhary went into hiding for several weeks. Local police formed specialized tracing teams to track her movements across multiple districts in Rajasthan. Police detectives finally intercepted her following targeted surveillance and formally placed her under arrest on Wednesday afternoon.
Remanded to Her Former Place of Posting
Following standard medical checks, law enforcement officers produced Chaudhary before an Ajmer judicial magistrate. The court rejected her interim relief petitions and ordered her transferred to 14 days of judicial custody.
As a result, Chaudhary was escorted directly back into the Ajmer Central Jail compound. Prison administrators assigned her to the undertrial women’s ward. The ironic transition stunned department colleagues, as an officer who once oversaw guard rotas and administrative disciplinary actions became a registered inmate inside her own former workplace.
Heightened Security to Prevent Reprisals
Chaudhary’s sudden presence in the general barracks created unique operational challenges for prison authorities. Officials expressed concern over potential friction between the former jailer and prisoners who previously served time under her strict administrative command.
Jail supervisors have implemented heightened internal security measures. Chaudhary has been housed in a monitored isolation cell to prevent intimidation or retaliatory incidents from other inmates. Meanwhile, the state prison department is conducting a broader internal audit to examine whether similar misuse of prisoner labor exists across other regional correctional centers.
Curated news reports, in-depth analysis, and special features by India’s Opinion editorial team.
