Pics on 'prison luxury' forces Tamil Nadu govt to act

After photos of "luxurious" life led by some prisoners in Chennai's Puzhal Central prison went viral on social media, Tamil Nadu prison department ordered a probe into the issue and removed television sets on the prison premises.

As the inmates of the A-class wards were found to be using mobile phones in which they had taken photos, the prison authorities imposed a restriction on them from meeting visitors and procuring ration for three months.

The Puzhal Central prison has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately with a warder being arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle marijuana into the jail and photographs of inmates taking selfies in branded clothes and shoes and chit-chatting over phone surfaced. The prison authorities were accused of allowing the inmates to lead a luxurious life after taking money.

ADGP Prisons Ashutosh Shukla directed the Deputy IG (Prisons) to conduct surprise checks on Thursday and found the inmates were using the television sets to charge mobile phones.

"So we removed 18 TVs and two radios," said a senior prison official adding: "We have seized seven mobile phones from the prison and inquiry is on how they were smuggled in. Severe action would be initiated against the erring official."