Ajmer jailer Divya Chaudhary arrested for illegally removing inmates from women's jail
Synopsis
A jailer who had been absconding for two months was caught in Kota after allegedly smuggling two female prisoners — including a lifer — out of Ajmer's women's correctional home and taking them to her private residence. The case has exposed a serious breach of custodial protocol inside Rajasthan's prison system.
Key Takeaways
Divya Chaudhary , 37 , suspended jailer of Ajmer Women's Correctional Home , was arrested on 6 October 2026 from Kota district .
She allegedly removed two female inmates — Kiran alias Setha (life sentence) and Sana (undertrial) — from the jail on 12 July 2026 .
The inmates were allegedly taken to Chaudhary's private residence in ARG City , Ajmer, for personal benefit.
A case was registered at Civil Lines Police Station on 5 August 2026 on a complaint by jail guard Mahipal Mangloda .
Chaudhary had been absconding since the case registration; police used CCTV, technical evidence, and the Cyber Cell to trace her.
Interrogation is ongoing; investigators are probing the motive and the role of alleged accomplice, guard Sonia Chaudhary .
A suspended jailer from the Ajmer Women's Correctional Home has been arrested after allegedly removing two female prisoners — one a lifer, the other an undertrial — from custody and taking them to her private residence. Divya Chaudhary, 37, who had been absconding since the case was registered on 5 August 2026, was apprehended on 6 October 2026 from a residential flat in Kota district by a special team of Ajmer Police.
What Allegedly Happened
According to police, the incident occurred on 12 July 2026. Divya Chaudhary, then serving as jailer-in-charge and a resident of Bhilwara, allegedly conspired with fellow female guard Sonia Chaudhary to extract two inmates from the correctional facility. The two allegedly overruled objections raised by gate staff and intimidated on-duty personnel before escorting the prisoners out.
The inmates removed were Kiran alias Setha, who was serving a life sentence, and Sana, an undertrial prisoner. Police allege that Chaudhary subsequently took both women to her private residence in ARG City, Ajmer, for what investigators describe as 'personal benefit' — the precise nature of which is still under probe.
How the Case Came to Light
A formal complaint was filed by Mahipal Mangloda, a guard at Ajmer Central Jail, leading to the registration of a case at Civil Lines Police Station on 5 August 2026. Following registration, Chaudhary allegedly left her headquarters without informing authorities and went underground to evade arrest — triggering a multi-agency manhunt.
Investigators deployed CCTV footage, technical surveillance, official records, and assistance from the Cyber Cell to trace her movements. The operation ultimately led the special team to Kota district, where she was nabbed on 6 October.
The Police Operation
The investigation was conducted under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Himanshu Jangid and Circle Officer Shivam Joshi. The special team was led by Civil Lines SHO Shambhu Singh and included ASI Moinuddin, Cyber Cell ASI Ashish, Head Constable Parina Bano, Constable Rishvendra Singh — whom police credited with a significant contribution — and Cyber Cell Constable Abhay Singh.
Ajmer District Superintendent of Police Harshvardhan Agarwala confirmed the arrest, stating that Chaudhary had allegedly abused her official position and acted in collusion with associates to intimidate prison security before removing the inmates.
What Investigators Are Probing Next
Intensive interrogation of the arrested jailer is currently underway, according to police. Investigators are also examining the involvement of other alleged accomplices and working to establish the full motive behind the unauthorised removal of the two inmates. The role of Sonia Chaudhary, the guard who allegedly assisted, remains a key line of inquiry. This case raises serious questions about oversight mechanisms inside Rajasthan's women's correctional homes and the vulnerability of inmates — particularly those serving long sentences — to abuse of authority by jail staff.
Point of View
Including a lifer, past a manned gate, intimidate on-duty staff without immediate escalation, and then remain undetected for nearly two months points to accountability failures well beyond one person. The fact that the complaint came from a guard, not a superior officer or an inspection body, raises uncomfortable questions about whether internal vigilance in these facilities is functional at all. With interrogation ongoing and accomplices potentially at large, the case warrants scrutiny beyond a routine arrest bulletin.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Divya Chaudhary and why was she arrested?
Divya Chaudhary is a 37-year-old suspended jailer who was in charge of the Ajmer Women's Correctional Home. She was arrested on 6 October 2026 for allegedly removing two female inmates from the facility on 12 July 2026 and taking them to her private residence, abusing her official position.
Which inmates were taken out of the Ajmer women's jail?
The two inmates allegedly removed were Kiran alias Setha, who was serving a life sentence, and Sana, an undertrial prisoner. Both were taken to the accused jailer's private residence in ARG City, Ajmer, according to police.
How was Divya Chaudhary traced after she went absconding?
After the case was registered on 5 August 2026, police used CCTV footage, technical surveillance, official records, and assistance from the Cyber Cell to track her movements. A special team eventually raided a residential flat in Kota district and arrested her on 6 October 2026.
Who filed the complaint in the Ajmer jail case?
The complaint was filed by Mahipal Mangloda, a guard at Ajmer Central Jail, leading to a case being registered at Civil Lines Police Station on 5 August 2026.
What is being investigated now?
Police are currently interrogating Divya Chaudhary intensively. Investigators are probing the precise motive behind the removal of the inmates, the extent of personal benefit derived, and the involvement of alleged accomplice Sonia Chaudhary, a fellow female guard.
