60 in Puzhal jail get facilities similar to Sasi’s

Prison officials told DTNext that courts order ‘A’ Class facility when an accused, who is a regular tax payer, applies for it. At present, there are around 60 prisoners, who get ‘A class’ facility in the Puzhal jail. “Any foreign national, irrespective of the crime he committed, is entitled to A Class facility and so are dual passport owners. 

In Puzhal most of the A Class prisoners are foreign nationals who were caught on charges of drug smuggling, passport cases and other offences. The Sri Lankan fishermen held by Indian Navy also get the A Class facility,” a senior prison official said. 

“One can also get a report from the Collector concerned and get the A Class facility. We will provide it based on that report and a court order is not necessary in such cases,” Sylendra Babu, ADGP, Prisons told DTNext. Ultimately, any influential or wealthy person will invariably be an A Class prisoner, irrespective of the crime he or she has committed, sources added. 

Prominent among the present group of prisoners getting this facility is Vendhar Movies Madhan, a film producer arrested for financial fraud. Similarly, Sekhar Reddy, the sand mining baron, and his associates were also given A Class facility when they were in the Puzhal prison after they were arrested by the CBI. Among the convicts, most of the A Class prisoners are Indians, prison sources told. 

Most of these ‘A Class’ prisoners enjoy a near perfect life, as they get to food of their choice and they can even order grocery to prison authorities, who would get them using money from the prison fund. “A Class prisoners get chicken on alternate days and are free to cook their food in the common kitchen. 

Jail authorities will supply the provisions they ask for and prisoners cook food on their own,” a prison official said. The A Class prisoners get independent cells and one TV is provided per 10 cells. They are also provided with cot, bed-sheet, table and chair inside their cell.