Barrack 12: All about the jail which will house Mallya
Fugitive Vijay Mallya will be extradited from the UK to India, ruled a London court delivering its verdict after a year-long trial. The beleaguered businessman, accused of money laundering and fraud to the tune of Rs. 9,000 crore, is likely to be lodged in Barrack No. 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail post-extradition. Here's all you need to know about it.
While India had told the UK authorities that Mallya will be treated like any other prisoner, the Arthur Road Jail's Barrack No. 12 will reportedly have a few "special" facilities. While lodged in the cell, Mallya would get an LCD television, private western-style toilet, access to a library, washing area, and a courtyard. Also, clean mattresses, pillows, and blankets would be provided to him.
Also, Mallya's Arthur Road Jail cell would be facing east with a window that has horizontal bars so that he can get natural sunlight and ventilation, too.
Mallya earlier made a case against the state of Indian prisons in the London court, saying the jails lacked sunlight and other necessities. The CBI then shot an 8-minute video of the Arthur Jail prison cell for the UK court. Barrack No. 12 houses only six inmates, the video showed, busting claims of overcrowding and providing details of the other facilities he will get.
The video sent by CBI also showed that Mallya's jail cell would have a courtyard where he can take a stroll. Barrack No. 12 is in a separate compound where only six inmates would be lodged. Like other inmates, Mallya would also have access to a library. The UK court was also assured that the prison is clean and hygienic with medical facilities too.
It was for the first time that the barrack in the high-security Arthur Road Jail was filmed to send a video to the UK court. The Indian side earlier informed the court that global standard security was in place at the jail. It also said the jail was under CCTV-camera surveillance and that guards in adequate numbers were deployed inside as well as outside.
Barrack 12 usually houses high-profile inmates. Former TV executive Peter Mukerjea (in stepdaughter Sheena Bora's murder case) and ex-Maharashtra DyCM and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal along with his nephew Samir Bhujbal (money laundering) were lodged there. It also housed Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt (1993 Bombay bombings case), Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab (26/11 attacks), Abu Jindal, Abu Salem, Satish Kalia, and Chhota Rajan among others.
