“Ram Rahim is paid not more than Rs 20 a day, which is the fixed salary for doing unskilled jobs inside Haryana jails,” said DGP (Jails).
PANCHKULA – Wondering how once a powerful head of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda is spending his time in Rohtak jail following conviction in rape case?
DGP (Jails) KP Singh told HT on Tuesday that Gurmeet Ram Rahim does gardening every day besides growing vegetables, a job that falls in the category of unskilled labour.
“He is paid not more than Rs 20 a day, which is the fixed salary for doing unskilled jobs inside Haryana jails,” Singh added.
He said that he might be good in skilled jobs but given restrictions inside the jail, this is the only job he is allowed at present. “There is small piece of land near his barrack, where he toils hard for four to five hours a day,” he added
This is not the only restriction on him. He is kept away from daily dose of news both through television and newspaper.
There are barracks where there is provision for TV and accessibility of newspaper but same is not allowed to his barrack. He is not allowed to make any phone call from the jail due to security concerns.
Initial media reports said that he had been kept in solitary confinement. The DGP denied this.
Singh said that he shares his barrack with three life convicts; the decision that has been taken keeping in view his socialising needs. “But the selection of these inmates was tough, he revealed. Their records were checked before shifting them into his barrack. All three have already spent more than 10 years in jail here and one of them is over 70,” said the DGP. “We also made sure that those prisoners had no connection with his Dera before shifting them, he added
He, however, refused to share the capacity of the barrack.
He can consume maximum of 3,175 calories a day. It includes two breads and 250 gram milk in the morning as breakfast, followed by tea. In lunch, he is served 7 chapatis and one seasonal vegetable. Then he is allowed evening tea before dinner. Singh said that menu of all jails is fixed in advance.
The ex-custodian of Dera’s Rs 1,000-crore properties is not allowed to keep more than Rs 5,000 and that too through jail’s digital money. He can spend this money to buy fruits and other eatables from the canteen.
DGP said that Bhagwad Gita was the only book he demanded after he was brought to the jail. He reads it every now and then. When his mother came to meet him, she brought two books, probably of the Dera.
Singh said the testimony of several jail inmates that he had screamed and cried inside the barrack was baseless. “He has not thrown any tantrum so far and is behaving according to the rules and regulations of the jail manuals.”. Singh, however, said other jail inmates were initially inconvenienced but things are normal now. “Gurmeet Ram Rahim too has acclimatized to the environment inside the jail,” he added.
Recall his expensive attires which he used to don during his cult days not long ago. But he is allowed to wear kurta pyjama. Singh said his number is 8647.
