No VIP treatment to Dasani, his girlfriend: Jail authorities

Kanpur, Aug 5: Billionaire biscuit manufacturer's son and his girlfriend were allegedly being given "VIP treatment" in jail where they are lodged in connection with a murder case, a claim refuted by the prison authorities who said the rules were same for all inmates.

Sources in the Kanpur Jail said Piyush Shyam Dasani and his girlfriend, who were in jail in connection with the murder of the former's wife Jyoti, had been given "special provisions" including home-cooked food, room fresheners, mosquito repellents, deodorants and western-style toilets.

The sources further claimed Dasani, who had been assigned the task of kneading dough at the jail's kitchen, had been given relaxation from his duty and was put in a special cell after he complained of dizziness. Dasani's woman friend had not even been assigned any jail duty, the sources alleged, adding, the remaining accused -- driver Avdhesh and three of his accomplices -- were, however, being treated like other inmates.

When contacted, Jail Superintendent P D Saloniya refuted the claims of special treatment being given to the two accused in the Kanpur Jail. "Dasani and his woman friend are not receiving any special treatment in the prison. The woman has a broken leg... Western-style lavatories are provided in cases where the prisoner is either injured or is an elderly," he said.

On home-cooked food being provided to the two on a daily basis, Saloniya said: "When family comes to meet, they bring with them food items which we allow on humanitarian grounds. Family members can give any article to the prisoners expect drugs or cigarettes."

When asked why the woman accused had not been assigned any work so far, the jail superintendent said new inmates are given some time to adjust to the surroundings.

"The jail rules are same for all. Visits by the family members of the two are in accordance with the rules," he said. Uttar Pradesh government had yesterday suspended Circle Officer of Swaroop Nagar, Rakesh Kumar Nayak, after he was photographed hugging Dasani and planting a kiss on his forehead in a police station.

Dasani was arrested after he confessed to have got Jyoti, his wife, killed with the help of his driver as he was having relations with another woman. Jyoti's body, bearing multiple stab wounds, was found inside Dasani's car on July 28 in Panki area of Kanpur.

PTI