Luxury comes at a price for Puzhal prisoners

Around 10 days ago, a warden at the prison was caught with ganja hidden in his innerwear when he reported for duty. He was smuggling it to give to a Pakistan spy _ a NIA suspect _ lodged there, for a premium price. The warden has now been placed under suspension.

Photographs from a seized mobile phone provided proof of the sheer luxury afforded to certain prisoners. 

Investigations revealed that prisoners could purchase all sorts of comforts _ food, clothes, cosmetics, phones _ at a very high price. 

Though there have been reports of rampant corruption inside prisons in the state, this is the first time that photographic evidence has been accessed by the media. Sources said that certain inmates lodged in the high security block controlled the entire operations inside the jail. 

These ‘influential’ inmates could get other prisoners items ranging from mobile phones to sun-glasses to sports shoes and even good, tasty food. They procured rice and vegetables inside and not only cooked for themselves but sold it to other inmates who craved homemade food.

“The inmates who cooked inside the jail made a killing by selling it to the other inmates,” a source revealed. In the set of pictures made available to DT Next, a prisoner is seen feasting on a huge meal served in casseroles, a far cry from the steel plates that regular prisoners eat from. “It looks like they are happily living in a resort. It is not clear how such activities are allowed inside the high security block inside the prison complex,” commented a senior government official. Though jail officials claim that cellphone signal jammers are installed on the premises, sources noted that none are functional. 

“Even if one or two work, those jammers are not designed to block 4G phone signals. Most inmates lodged there use the latest phones,” the source added. From the photographs, it is clear that several prisoners talk openly on mobile phones. “They casually pose for photographs and with phones in their hands,” the source said. When contacted, senior jail officials at Puzhal avoided answering queries on the subject.

A little over a year ago, a report by then DIG (Prisons) D Roopa kicked up a storm by revealing video footage of AIADMK (Amma) leader VK Sasikala inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail that showed she was provided special facilities, including an exclusive kitchen to prepare her meals, in violation of prison norms.