Ex-ministers as ‘neighbours’, accused lodged at high security ‘Poila Baish’ cell block in Presidency jail

According to jail authorities, after his prayer, an interview was arranged on Saturday with his lawyer (he was provided with a lawyer by court from the district legal services authority, after he failed to get his own lawyer). Later in the evening, he was served dinner which included chapatis, dal and vegetables.

On Friday, Roy was remanded to 14 days in judicial custody by a court in Sealdah. The civic volunteer was arrested on August 10. Later, the CBI, which took over the probe following a Calcutta High Court order, interrogated Roy. He was taken to Presidency central jail from court around 4 pm on Friday. Following the procedure , jail authorities searched and had him evaluated by a doctor.

“Roy has been placed in ‘Poila Baish (1 to 22)’ cell block. This cell block has Partha Chatterjee, Jyotipriya Mullick, Aftab Ansari (American centre attack case) and Suvod Singh (Bihar gangster brought to Bengal) among others, who too are kept in individual cells. The cell block inside the jail is highly guarded and normal inmates are not allowed inside, ” said a jail official.

Roy has been placed in cell number 21. Partha Chatterjee is in cell number 2, Jyotipriya Mullick in cell number 7.

Chatterjee is in jail following the CBI investigation into the school recruitment scam while Jyotipriyo Mullick is behind bars for his alleged involvement in a ration scam. “He (Roy) seemed quite casual and there was no indication from his face or behaviour that he is accused in such a case. The first thing he said was, “Sir, I am hungry. After placing him in his cell, he was given the usual meal here: chapati and vegetables,” said a senior Presidency jail official.

According to jail officials, Roy did not demand anything after he was taken to his cell.