Jail cell for Vijay Mallya in India has western toilet, 40-inch LCD TV, courtyard

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation has submitted before the UK court a video of cell 12 in Arthur Road Jail, where it plans to keep embattled businessman Vijay Mallya, who is wanted in India for economic crimes and is currently based in London.

According to reports, video of the cell number 12 shows that the cell contains Western-style toilet attached, 6 tube lights, 3 fans, roof almost 15 feet high, white paint on the wall and 40-inch LCD television. It also has a courtyard.

The Indian authorities are trying to get Mallya extradited to India.

Recently, Vijay Mallya had complained to a UK court that there is no natural light and air in the Arthur Road Jail and jails of India are also unhygienic.

After Mallya’s complaint the UK judge had asked Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of a cell at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail where they plan to keep Mallya if he is extradited.

When contacted, CBI officials refused to comment on the issue. However, a television report quoted a senior officer saying, “The UK court wanted us to show if Indian jails are hygienic or not. We gave them a video as a proof of the hygiene in the jail. The barrack in which Mallya would be kept is east-facing so it has lot of sunlight too.”

The senior official further said, “The cell has two opposite side windows so ventilation won’t be a problem. The cell also opens to a courtyard.” In the ongoing extradition proceedings, if the judge rules in favour of India, the UK home secretary would have two months to sign Mallya’s extradition order. However, both sides would have the chances to appeal to higher courts in the UK against the magistrates’ court verdict.