Chhagan Bhujbal is in "Barrack Number 12". Only Kasab was kept here till he was moved out of at Arthur Road jail.
Highlights
- Chhagan Bhujbal in Barrack Number 12 of Arthur Road Jail
- The cell was created amid reports Kasab could be killed by his masters
- Ex Minister being probed for alleged corruption in Maharashtra Sadan case
Call it cosmic irony. Maharashtra politician Chhagan Bhujbal, jailed for alleged corruption, is in the high security cell that was built under his supervision as a minister in 2008.
The cell was constructed for Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Amid intelligence reports that he could be killed by his masters in the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Maharashtra government decided to build a special bullet-proof cell.
The state government decided that the cell would be set up at the Arthur Road jail and would be called "Barrack Number 12". Mr Bhujbal, who was Public Works Department Minister at the time, was in charge of the project.
The 68-year-old NCP stalwart now finds himself in the same cell, ironically over allegations of corruption during that period.
The senior politician is being investigated for alleged corruption in contracts awarded for the Maharashtra Sadan or state government guest house in Delhi. He has denied any wrongdoing.
One of his fellow prisoners is former media tycoon Peter Mukerjea, who is facing charges of murdering his step-daughter Sheena Bora last year.
"Yes they are all in Barrack 12," confirmed Bipin Kumar Singh, a senior police officer in charge of prisons.
Reports suggest that Mr Bhujbal has been sharing home-cooked food sent for Peter Mukerjea, who has been granted the luxury by a court. Mr Bhujbal, former Deputy Chief Minister, has been denied this privilege.
Barrack Number 12 was earlier a large enclosure where only Kasab was kept until he was sent to the Yerwada jail in Pune and later hanged in 2012. Now it has been divided into more cells to accommodate high profile prisoners.