Crackdown at Presidency Jail, Superintendent suspended after "Shahjahans" found using smartphones

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has initiated a rigorous cleanup of the state's correctional services following a major security breach at the Presidency Correctional Facility. On Friday, May 15, 2026, the Chief Minister ordered the immediate suspension of the Presidency Jail Superintendent and the Chief Controller after an investigation recovered several unauthorized smartphones from within the prison walls.

The crackdown is part of Adhikari's broader pledge to dismantle what he describes as a "corruption network" and a "dove's nest" of illicit activities allegedly fostered under the previous administration. The investigation revealed that high-profile inmates, referred to by the Chief Minister as "Shahjahans," were using smartphones to maintain contact with outside networks, often with the alleged collaboration of jail staff.

Upon returning to Nabanna from the Assembly session, Adhikari reviewed the evidence of these security lapses and directed the Home Department to take swift disciplinary action. The recovery of these devices highlights a persistent challenge in prison management, despite previous attempts to install high-tech jammers to block mobile signals in the state’s central jails.