Baba Bling grows vegetables in jail, does gardening too
Rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is paid wages of Rs 20 daily, shares barrack with three life convicts in Rohtak’s Sunaria prison
PANCHKULA: Rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who once ruled over an empire like Sirsa based commune with a following of millions, is now spending his time in Rohtak jail growing vegetables.
Dirrctor general of police (DGP-jails) KP Singh told HT on Tuesday that 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 further said that the dera chief might be good in skilled jobs, but given the restrictions inside the jail, this is the only job he is allowed at present. “There is a small piece of land near his barrack, where he toils hard for four to five hours a day.”
NO TV OR NEWSPAPER
Besides, the dera chief is being kept away from the daily dose of news, both through television and newspaper.
“There are barracks where there is a provision for TV and newspaper, but these facilities are not allowed in his barrack. Also, he is not allowed to make any phone calls from the jail due to security concerns,” the DGP said.
NOT ALONE IN BARRACK
KP Singh denied initial media reports that Ram Rahim has been kept in solitary confinement.
“He shares his barrack with three life convicts. The decision has been taken keeping in view his socialising needs. But the selection of these inmates was tough. Their past 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 even aged over 70 years,” he said.
“We also made sure that these prisoners had no connection with his dera,” he added
He, however, refused to reveal the capacity of the barrack in which te self-styled godman has been kept.
WHAT HE GETS TO EAT
In jail, Ram Rahim can consume a maximum of 3,175 calories a day. It includes two breads and 250 ml milk in the morning as breakfast, followed by tea before lunch in which he is served 7 chapatis and one seasonal vegetable. Then he gets evening tea before dinner.
KP Singh said the menu of all jails is fixed well in advance. “For instance, bottle gourd was cooked in Rohtak jail on Tuesday.”
PERMISSION TO KEEP RS 5,000 E-MONEY
Ram Rahim, who was custodian of his dera’s Rs 1000-crore properties, is not allowed to keep more than Rs 5,000 in prison and that too through the digital money provided by jail authorities. He can spend this money to buy anything from the canteen, where fruits and other eatables are available.
READS BHAGAWAT GITA
DGP said that Bhagwat Geeta was the only book he demanded when he came here. He reads it every now and then. When his mother came to meet him, she brought her two books, probably published by the dera.
CAN WEAR ONLY KURTA PAJAMA
Contrary to the flashy attires he used to don in his real and reel life not long ago, the Baba Bling is allowed to wear only kurta pajama in jail, which is the typical jail uniform.
Denying earlier reports that Ram Rahim is Qaidi No. 1997 in Sunaria jail, KP Singh said his designated number is 8647. However, he said this number is not tagged on prisoner’s clothes. “It is an old practice not followed these days.”
There is a small piece of land near his barrack in the jail, where he works four to five hours a day. KP SINGH, DGP (jails)