MAY 30- Tainted cricketer S. Sreesanth found the eastern corner of his cell in Tihar’s Jail number one and set a small idol of Lord Ganesha there. That was the first thing he did on reaching his cell in ward number 10 – meant for first time offenders – on May 28. He was on the verge of tears as the reality of his surroundings sunk in.
He has been sent here till June 4 and may have to stay longer if denied bail.
Though other cricketers accused in the betting case, Ajeet Chandila and Ankeet Chavan are also in the same jail, Sreesanth was shaken when he got to know that he has murder accused Gopal Kanda as his neighbour. He definitely didn’t feel better when he was told that former Telecom Minister A. Raja was also lodged in the same jail.
Sources in Tihar Jail said that Sreesanth has been advised not to mingle much with his other jail mates, keeping his tempestuous temperament in mind. “There is some anger among the other inmates against the cheating cricketers. Taunting and passing comments is commonplace. So we have asked Sreesanth to keep his cool,” sources disclosed.
His elder brother came to see him in Tihar Jail on May 29 but was not allowed to meet him since he reached at 3 pm, three hours after visiting hours were over. He was asked to come again on May 30. “The cricketers are not being accorded any special treatment. They will get jail food and follow the general rules,” an official said.
On observing Sreesanth, the jail officials claim, it doesn’t seem difficult to handle him. “He got involved in the betting racket and it is almost like an addiction. However, since he is a religious fellow, we will expose him to various religious discourses that are arranged inside the jail. Hopefully, we will succeed in reminding him of his roots. After all, the focus of imprisonment is also reformatory,” the official added.
-INDIA TODAY
