Chennai, Oct 29:
After the sensational jailbreak in Theni district in which 17 prisoners escaped and were later apprehended, the Tamil Nadu government transferred the Director-General of Police, Prisons, Sandeep Rai Rathore.
He was posted as DGP/Chief Vigilance Officer, Tangedco, Chennai. K. Shankar, ADGP, Enforcement Bureau-CID, was posted as the ADGP, Prisons and Correctional Services.
The Theni jailbreak was the second instance of inmates escaping from a prison. Two prisoners escaped from Puzhal Central Prison on October 20, 2026, and were apprehended the next day. Seven assistant jailers were suspended for the alleged security lapses.
In the Theni district jail, 17 remand prisoners allegedly overpowered jail staff members and escaped on the night of Monday (October 26). Special teams that were formed to track the escapees nabbed 13 of them on Tuesday and the remaining four on Wednesday (October 28). Dr. Rathore visited the jail and ordered the suspension of nine prison wardens for dereliction of duty.