India, May 2 -- The Delhi high court on Friday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary enquiry into an extortion syndicate operating at Tihar jail after a report by an inspecting judge revealed "very disturbing and startling facts".

The bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Tushar Rao Gedela also ordered the Delhi government to conduct an administrative enquiry into administrative and supervisory lapses on part of the jail officials and identify the jail officers who played a role.

The report submitted to the court on April 7 indicted jail officials, spotlighted irregularities and illegalities in the functioning of Tihar prisons and revealed how even the jail's landline number was being misuse...