VIPs at Tihar Jail buy candles,prepare for a ‘subdued’ Diwali

Jail authorities said Diwali celebrations at Tihar commenced a week in advance — with musical evenings being organised at Jail 1,2,3 and 7.

“Former Telecom minister A Raja did express interest in the function and its preparations. But,since it was entirely in Hindi,he could not engage actively in the performances,” said a source from Jail 1,where Raja is lodged in a single cell. “Also,he could not even attend the show due to the court proceedings in the 2G case that are on daily and the performance was in the morning.”

Raja has purchased candles from the jail store,and sweets and South Indian delicacies have been delivered to him from home.

“We do not allow firecrackers in the Tihar complex,inmates can purchase candles to light in and around their cells,” said R N Sharma,DIG (Prisons).

Jail authorities said Raja is among the few VIPs who has “blended” into the jail routine. “Raja is probably the most comfortable (of all) with the jail routine. He is very particular about physical activity and plays badminton in the evenings. In fact,after getting food delivered from home in the first few weeks,he started eating food from the jail canteen,” an official said.

For Kanimozhi,the festival has ushered in renewed hopes of bail. “Her gait has changed,she is so much more positive. She had kept herself restricted to the library,but now she has been making frequent trips to the creche in the women’s jail and talking to people,” said an official from Jail 6.

Kanimozhi probably gets the highest number of visitors in the women’s jail,with her husband and son visiting her often.

Former MP Suresh Kalmadi has,however,been leading a “subdued” life in Jail 4,after his infamous tea party in the superintendent’s office in July got the jail official transferred.

“Kalmadi hardly eats jail food and keeps to himself since he came back from AIIMS. Earlier,he used to talk about politics and how he would continue contesting elections,but now he has stopped mixing up. He has not even purchased any candles for Diwali yet,” the Tihar official added.

Corporate bigwigs,like MD of DB Realty Shahid Balwa,are said to be “sulking” about spending Diwali in jail. “Balwa has got boxes of mithais from his family members,” a jail official said.

Meanwhile,former BJP MP Sudheendra Kulkarni got a surprise visitor on choti Diwali as Sushma Swaraj dropped in. “Kulkarni was very happy,especially with the boxes of mithai she got for him. He is very chatty and philosophical,and loves talking to other inmates,” a jail official said.

To make up for the lack of home food,jail officials plan to prepare a lavish spread on Diwali,including puri chole and matar paneer.