Faridabad Jail Error Leads to Release of Rape Accused
Mistaken Release Raises Concerns
In a significant oversight by prison officials, a man charged with the sexual assault of a nine-year-old boy was inadvertently released from Faridabad Jail. This incident, which occurred this week, has sparked serious questions regarding the verification processes within the prison system.
The individual mistakenly freed is 27-year-old Nitesh Pandey, hailing from Kalyanpur village in Patna, Bihar. He had been in judicial custody since October 2021 after being arrested for the sexual assault of a minor in Sector-58 of Faridabad. His case fell under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and he was classified as a high-risk inmate.
The mix-up originated when jail authorities received a bail order for another inmate, 24-year-old Nitesh, residing in Shastri Colony, Faridabad. This second Nitesh had been arrested recently for a less serious offense involving house trespass and assault. Compounding the confusion was the fact that both inmates shared the same paternal name, Ravinder, which complicated the verification process.
Following the receipt of the bail order on Monday, the jail administration prepared for the release on Tuesday. However, instead of releasing the correct Nitesh, they mistakenly let Nitesh Pandey go. The error was discovered when the actual Nitesh inquired about his delayed release, prompting the police to realize the mix-up. Unfortunately, by that time, Pandey had already escaped.
A case has now been filed against Pandey for his escape from custody. In the meantime, two jail officials involved in the release have been suspended while an investigation is ongoing. Authorities are also exploring the possibility of internal connections that may have contributed to this error.
Faridabad Police Commissioner and senior jail officials have confirmed that efforts are underway to locate and re-arrest Pandey. They have also pledged to review and enhance jail protocols to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.