Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Delhi Plans Interstate Transfers for High-Risk Undertrial Prisoners
Delhi wants to move some dangerous prisoners to jails in other states.
These prisoners include gang members and organised criminals who are still awaiting trial.
Officials say some may threaten witnesses, interfere with trials, or plan crimes from inside prison.
Moving them away from Delhi could make those activities more difficult.
The transfers would need agreement from the states involved or approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Delhi plans to use a 2025 amendment made by Punjab to create a legal route for these transfers.
Court proceedings would continue under the applicable legal rules.
Reports say 188 gang members were identified and 107 were arrested, but they give different years for those figures.
Delhi plans to transfer high-risk undertrial gangsters and organised criminals to prisons in other states.
The government will implement the Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025, in Delhi.
Transfers would require mutual consent between states or approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Officials say the move could improve prison security, protect witnesses, and disrupt criminal activity from jails.
Authorities reportedly identified 188 members of 26 gangs and arrested 107, though sources differ on the year.
- Who
- The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and high-risk undertrial prisoners.
- What
- A plan to transfer undertrial gangsters, organised criminals, and other high-risk prisoners from Delhi to prisons in other states.
- When
- The plan was announced on Sunday; the relevant Punjab amendment received presidential assent on April 21, 2025. Sources differ on whether the gang figures refer to May 2025 or May 2026.
- Where
- From prisons in Delhi to prisons in other states.
- Why
- The stated aims are to improve prison security and management, protect witnesses, strengthen law and order, and curb organised crime.
- Proposed measure
- Transfer high-risk undertrial gangsters, organised criminals, and other dangerous prisoners from Delhi to prisons in other states.
- Legal framework
- Delhi plans to implement the Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025.
- Approval requirement
- Transfers would require mutual consent between the states concerned or approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Presidential assent
- The amended Punjab law received the President’s assent on April 21, 2025.
- Reported gang figures
- Authorities identified 188 members of 26 gangs and arrested 107; sources differ on whether this occurred in May 2025 or May 2026.
- Current legal position
- The reports say interstate transfers generally cover convicted prisoners, while undertrial transfers are otherwise limited to movement within a state.
- Court proceedings
- Judicial proceedings, where required, would follow the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
