A serious lapse in the Faridabad jail system led to the mistaken release of a rape accused instead of a man charged with a minor offense, prompting the suspension of five jail staff members and sparking a police manhunt.
The confusion arose due to the identical names of two inmates—both named Nitesh and both sons of Ravinder. However, the nature of their alleged crimes couldn't have been more different. One, Nitesh Pandey (27), had been in jail since October 2021 for allegedly raping a nine-year-old boy. The other, a 24-year-old Nitesh without a surname, had just been arrested on Sunday on charges of house trespass and assault.
According to a report by PTI, it was the 24-year-old who had been granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Monday. But in a stunning administrative failure, it was the older Nitesh Pandey—facing serious charges under the POCSO Act—who was mistakenly released from Neemka Jail.
Jail authorities now claim that the rape accused deceived officials by concealing his identity to take advantage of the other man’s bail order. “We have lodged a complaint with the Sadar Police Station against Nitesh Pandey for obtaining his release by hiding his identity,” jail deputy superintendent Vikram Singh told PTI.
An internal investigation, led by jail superintendent Harendra Singh, quickly concluded that there was negligence on the part of jail staff, resulting in the suspension of five employees. Their failure to cross-verify critical identification details—including the presence or absence of a surname—proved disastrous.
The Sadar Station House Officer has confirmed that efforts are underway to track down the absconding Nitesh Pandey. “He will be caught soon,” the SHO told PTI.
The incident raises serious questions about the verification procedures followed in Indian jails, especially when handling individuals with similar names. Despite obvious differentiators like the absence of a surname or the gravity of the charges, basic checks appear to have been overlooked, with potentially grave consequences.
