Karnan loses 15kg in prison, walks free
judge of Calcutta high court CS Karnan, the first serving judge in India to be sentenced to prison, was released from Presidence Jail in Kolkata on Wednesday after serving his six months of imprisonment for contempt of the Supreme Court.
“He is in good health and spirits but has lost almost 15kg,” PeterRameshKumar,aChennaibased advocate and Karnan’s close associate, told the Hindustan Times.
The 62-year-old was sentenced in June for contempt of court, following a long judicial standoff with the judges of the apex court. In an unprecedented move, Karnan even “sentenced” the then chief justice of India, J S Khehar, and seven SC judges to five years’ rigorous imprisonment.
A seven-judge bench sentenced him the next day, following which Karnan went into hiding and stayed beyond the reach of the police for over a month.
Karnan’s wife Saraswati and son Sugan received him outside the Presidency Correctional Home at 10am on Wednesday. His close associate and advocate Mathew J Nedumpara was also present during the release. They took Karnan straight to his residence in Kolkata’s New Town.
Sources at the jail said Karnan spent his entire time inside the prison hospital. Authorities did not risk keeping him in a cell as he was suffering from anxiety and ailments related to blood sugar and blood pressure, they said.
Jail sources and his family members told HT that Karnan was treated as a “special prisoner” and offered all help in getting the books he wanted to read.
“He spent his time in prison mostly writing his autobiography. We will start looking for a publisher after a few months,” Karnan’s son told HT. “We’ll be in Kolkata for about 10 days to complete the formalities related to his pension,” said his wife.
The timing of the release was not disclosed to the media.
Karnan had the most unceremonious exit from the Calcutta high court when he retired on June 12 as a fugitive. He was arrested from Coimbatore on June 19 and lodged at the Presidency jail on June 21.
“He is ready to resume his battle for a corruption-free judiciary,” Nedumpara said.
KOLKATA:Former SOURCES AT THE JAIL SAID KARNAN SPENT HIS ENTIRE TIME INSIDE THE PRISON HOSPITAL