THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Information gathered from the Poojappura Central Prison using the Right to Information Act has given the lie to Balakrishna Pillai’s charge that he had been harassed inside the prison at the instructions of the LDF Government. It was rigorous imprisonment that the Supreme Court had ordered for R Balakrishna Pillai, but the Central Prison authorities gave him the cosy armchair job of an Office Orderly or Welfare Assistant in a cool, well-furnished room where he was not required to break into even a single drop of sweat. He was paid Rs 30 a day for his troubles. The amount has accumulated to over Rs 1,000, but he is yet to encash the money. The Court had not mentioned any special treatment for Pillai, but the LDF Government, the reply furnished by the prison says, directed that he be given ‘A-Class treatment’. Food from outside was not allowed, but Pillai was served ‘A-Class food’. So while other convicts were left to fester in bare fan-less rooms, Pillai was ensconced in a well-endowed room with a bed, table and chair, an attached bath and an air-cooler. He was also allowed to meet visitors in an open area outside the Welfare Officer’s room, a convenience denied to ordinary convicts. Information under the RTI Act was sought by SFI leader P K Raju. Balakrishna Pillai’s other major charge was that he was denied medical treatment as per the directions of the then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. The Central Prison authorities had provided a list of eight doctors who were at the service of the former Minister. The list included neurology, cardiac, gastro-enterology and general medicine specialists from the Medical College. If at all Pillai had any cause for complaint, it perhaps was in the behaviour of his son K B Ganesh Kumar. In between February 21 and April 14, Ganesh had visited him only once, that too along with a delegation of UDF leaders led by the then Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy. While the son was a reluctant visitor, Chandy had visited the jailed leader four times, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala twice, even the ailing Kerala Congress leader T M Jacob visited him twice. When asked whether another parole would be denied to Pillai since he had made false charges against jail authorities and the State Government, the reply stated that parole can be granted if the State Government issues the necessary orders. It was also asked whether it was right to grant parole to Pillai before 62 days of his one-year sentence. The reply said there was no time specification for an emergency parole.
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