Video of prisoners dancing in Ranchi jail goes viral, 2 officials suspended

Officials said the video is a few months old and was reportedly recorded inside a special hall in the jail where a few inmates are provided access to amenities such as a TV, cooler, and other facilities. In the video, the two accused are seen dancing and enjoying themselves. The two were identified as Vidhu Gupta, an accused in a liquor scam, and Vicky Bhalotia, an accused in a multi-crore GST fraud.

Vidhu Gupta, who was the managing director of Prism Holography Security Films Pvt Ltd, was arrested by the Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in July 2025 for allegedly supplying fake holograms for liquor bottles in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, and reportedly admitted to paying commissions worth nearly Rs 90 crore to officials. The ACB’s FIR against him details manipulated tenders and irregular contracts linked to the excise department.

Vicky Bhalotia, a businessman from Jugsalai, Jamshedpur, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May 2025 for his alleged role in a massive GST fraud case involving fake invoices and shell companies. According to the ED, Bhalotia controlled multiple firms that claimed inadmissible Input Tax Credit worth crores, contributing to a network of bogus transactions estimated at over Rs 14,000 crore.

Sudharshan Murmu, Superintendent of Birsa Munda Central Jail, said, “Yes, the video is old — about three to four months. Action has already been taken against those responsible.”

“Such things should not happen inside the jail. The officers who failed in their duty have been punished. Anyone who does wrong will face action,” he said.