Sandeep Rai Rathore. File
| Photo Credit: R. Ravindran
Three days after the sensational jailbreak in Theni district where 17 prisoners escaped and were later recaptured, the Tamil Nadu government, on Thursday (October 29, 2026) transferred out the Director-General of Police, Prisons, Sandeep Rai Rathore.
He has been posted as DGP, EB, Vigilance, Chennai. Replacing Mr. Rathore, K. Shankar, ADGP, Enforcement Bureau CID, has been posted as the ADGP, Prisons and Correctional Services.
Earlier on Monday (October 26) night, 17 remand prisoners who were lodged at the Thekkampatti sub-jail in Theni district escaped after claiming that one of the inmates suffered epileptic seizures and required assistance. When a jail warder opened the cell, they overpowered him and fled after attacking other prison warders too.
This was the biggest escape of prison inmates since 1995 when 43 LTTE militants who were detained in a special camp at the Vellore Fort escaped after digging a 153-foot-long tunnel in the Tippu Mahal.
Following the Theni jailbreak incident, on Tuesday (October 27), nine guards were suspended and Mr. Rathore visited and held inspection at the Theni prison premises. He had said human error led to escape of prisoners. A detailed inquiry into the lapses and circumstances that led to the jailbreak was ordered.
Special teams that were formed to track the escapees nabbed 13 of them on Tuesday and the remaining four on Wednesday (October 28).
Sandeep Rai Rathore coming out after inspection at the district jail in Theni on October 27 2026, following escape of 17 prisoners
| Photo Credit:
G. Karthikeyan
On Wednesday, Mr. Rathore had said all watchtowers in district jails across Tamil Nadu will now have armed prison warders, who have been authorised to open fire when under attack or to prevent a jailbreak.
Published – October 29, 2026 04:24 pm IST
