Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala, her associates enjoying ‘VIP’ facilities in jail, reveals RTI inquiry
In a shocking revelation by Right to Information (RTI) query claims Sasikala, who is serving a four-years jail term after being convicted in disproportionate assets case is enjoying VIP facilities in jail. Sasikala is former late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s close aide.
"She was entitled to one room but was given four. In the other four rooms, female convicts were staying up to February 14, 2017. Once Sasikala reached, they were sent out and all five rooms were given to her. There is no provision for cooking food in the prison but jail authorities deputed one convict to cook for Sasikala. Systems in place were ignored. People used to come in groups, go to her room directly and stay for 3-4 hours. Rules were violated," said RTI activist Narasimha Murthy.
D Roopa, the then Deputy Inspector General Prisons, had first flagged in 2017, that Sasikala and her associates were getting special treatment in jail. He claimed that they are getting separate kitchen, extra rooms and extended visiting hours. As per RTI revelation, Roopa has also suspected the role of the then Director General and her boss, HS Satyanarayan Rao, who had called her allegations "wild and baseless".
D Roopa wrote a letter to the higher officials, and claimed that Sasikala was being given VIP treatment for a bribe of Rs. 2 crore. Reacting to the RTI findings by Narasimha Murthy, that Sasikala enjoys special facilities given to her by Bangaluru Central Prison, deputy Chief Minister, G Parameshwara, who was then the home minister said,"I don't think so."
First published: 20 January 2019, 16:56 IST