The Literature Lounge: Netflix’s Black Warrant: Meet the Real Jailer Who Lived It | Ep 39

In this gut-wrenching episode, meet Sunil Gupta, real life Tihar Jailer and Author of ‘Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer.’ He shares all his experiences about the brutal and gritty world of the infamous Indian prison that inspired a Netflix series. 

Sunil describes the goings-on at Tihar Jail, and addresses the rumours of sexual assault and things being smuggled in. Witness to high-profile convicts like Afzal Guru, Manu Sharma, Charles Sobhraj, Maqbool Bhat, he gives an insider’s perspective on what these criminals were like. Also witness to all the hangings at Tihar Jail, he reveals surprising facts about these high-profile convicts that highlights their humanity. 

He talks about reforming the prison system by introducing free legal aid for prisoners which went on to become a fundamental right in India. Sunil recounts how Tihar Jail was the first prison to begin video conferencing between the court and prisoners, among many other commendable reforms. When asked about his take on executions, he says he is against ‘faasi’ as in his opinion, only the poor are hanged. The rich get away with a lot. 

He recalls how the staff at Tihar Jail handled Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal’s imprisonment, when the entire jail premises were surrounded by protestors. A jailer with a law degree, he asserts that he is not afraid of any backlash because he is only telling the truth. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation.

Chapters

00:00 Highlights
01:44 Introduction to Sunil Gupta and His Work
02:21 The Motivation Behind 'Black Warrant'
03:45 Transitioning from Law to Prison Services
05:05 Influential Inmates: Charles Sobhraj and Manu Sharma
15:32 Afzal Guru: A Complex Relationship
23:11 The Challenges of the Indian Criminal Justice System
26:58 Reflections on Early Experiences in Law
27:37 Insights from Working with Death Row Prisoners
32:13 Handling High-Profile Prisoners
33:26 The Challenges of Managing Protests and Agitations
41:35 Addressing Sexual Violence and Health Issues in Prisons
44:23 Treatment of Transgender Inmates in Prisons 
45:56 Legacy of Legal Reforms and Prison Management 
51:40 Spirituality and Personal Commitment in Service

Connect with Us

Mohua Chinappa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohua-chinappa/

The Mohua Show: https://www.themohuashow.com/

Connect with the Guest

Sunil Gupta: https://www.instagram.com/sunillegal/

Follow Us

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMohuaShow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litlounge_pod/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themohuashow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themohuashow/

For any other queries EMAIL

hello@themohuashow.com

Book Link 

Black Warrant: Confessions of a Tihar Jailer: https://www.amazon.in/Black-Warrant-Confessions-Tihar-Jailer/dp/8194206855

Disclaimer
The views expressed by our guests are their own. We do not endorse and are not responsible for any views expressed by our guests on our podcast and its associated platforms.

Thanks for Listening!