“Tihar is a classless thing. It does not matter what profile or background an undertrial has. We treat them all equal,” a top official of the jail said. Raja will remain in Tihar till March 3.
Former telecom minister A Raja was sent to the “classless” Tihar Jail on Thursday after facing sustained custodial interrogation for 14 days at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi over his role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Raja, who is lodged in Tihar’s high-risk ward number 1, however, need not lose heart since he has close aide and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and tainted home ministry sleuth Ravi Inder Singh for company in the jail.
“Tihar is a classless thing. It does not matter what profile or background an undertrial has. We treat them all equal,” a top official of the jail said. Raja will remain in Tihar till March 3.
In Jail number 1, there are seven blocks with 25 cells, much more than the other jails. Each cell is approximately 7-by-10 feet.
“Raja, who was bought to the jail at around 4 pm, had his evening tea in his cell, which he is not sharing with anyone at the moment,” Sunil Gupta, law officer of the jail, said.
Raja will have to adhere to the same rules as for every undertrial lodged in Tihar, he said, adding that the former telecom minister would be provided a normal bedding and two blankets.
Special CBI judge OP Saini has allowed Raja homemade food, spectacles and prescribed medicines after his lawyer Ramesh Gupta moved an application saying the former minister had a history of acid reflux disorder, irritable syndrome and claustrophobia since 2002. “Owing to the said medical condition of the applicant, he has been advised only home-cooked food,” he said.
“If the court has allowed homemade food, it can come twice. A DSP-level officer will check the food with a spoon before it is served to Raja,” Gupta said, adding that only vegetarian food was allowed.
According to the jail manual, all undertrials are served breakfast at 7 in the morning, lunch at noon and dinner at 7 pm.
“Raja can read newspapers and watch TV with a cable connection. He can also ask for books to read,” Gupta said, adding that he can read regional papers too, if available.
Asked if Raja can attend the budget session of Parliament, he said, “If he gets a court direction to this effect, we will allow him.”
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