‘VIP’ Sasikala Granted 23 Visits in Bengaluru Jail Instead of 8

Sasikala and her two other jailed relatives have met a total of 82 people in a span of four months.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala 

(Photo: The Quint)

Amid controversy surrounding the special privileges granted to AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala in Bengaluru Central Jail since her imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case, there has been another revelation that may spell trouble for jail authorities.

According to a Hindustan Times report, a Right to Information (RTI) response has disclosed that Sasikala was allowed 23 visits since her incarceration on 16 February 2017 till 16 June as opposed to the eight visits permitted by the prison.

Sasikala and her two other jailed relatives – her sister-in-law Ilavarasi and nephew Sudhakaran – convicted in the same case, have met a total of 82 people in a span of four months.

RTI activist T Narasimha, while speaking to HT, said that the “additional visits amount to gross violation of rules” and it is a known fact that “poor inmates in the jail are not extended such privileges”.

Former Deputy Inspector of Prisons (DIG) Roopa Moudgil had submitted a report to the state government earlier this month alleging that Sasikala had paid a bribe of Rs 2 crore to then Director General of Prisons (DGP) Satyanarayana Rao and other officials for undue favours.

Both Rao and Moudgil were transferred after the shocking details emerged.

The state government appointed retired IAS officer Vinay Kumar to probe into the alleged special treatment and other “erroneous” practises in the central jail.

(We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue?Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL at [e-mail] or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)