TV, fully-equipped toilet, more of a boutique hotel than jail: Photos show swish cell awaiting Mehul Choksi at Mumbai’s Arthur Road | Mumbai News
NEW DELHI: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, wanted in bank fraud cases worth Rs 13,000 crore, is set to be lodged at Arthur Road jail in Mumbai upon his extradition from Belgium. But unlike conventional grim prison cells, the barrack awaiting him is more akin to a boutique hotel suite, India has told the Belgian court. Photographs submitted by Indian prosecutors show a cell designed for comfort and security, adhering to European standards of prisoner management. Choksi will occupy one of two specially equipped cells in Barrack 12.
According to the documents:
- Air and light: The cell receives abundant natural light through three windows and five upper ventilators. Cross ventilation and three ceiling fans ensure sufficient air circulation.
- Amenities: The cell has a TV for news and entertainment, and an attached passage leads to a fully equipped toilet. Six hanging tube lights provide adequate illumination when natural light is insufficient.
- Security and movement: Police personnel are deployed round the clock. The barrack features a steel-protected structure cleared of ground-level obstructions to allow light and air inside. A wide corridor and a long walking area outside the barrack let inmates take morning and evening strolls.
Check out photos:
The development comes as part of a larger push by the Union Home Ministry to equip at least one prison cell in each state with international-standard facilities to accommodate high-profile fugitives. The Belgian court recently upheld Choksi’s arrest at India’s request and dismissed claims that his extradition was politically motivated. It noted that the documents Choksi submitted, highlighting alleged poor jail conditions, referred to Tihar jail and not Arthur Road. The court also found no evidence to support Choksi’s claim that he was kidnapped in Antigua in May 2021 on India’s orders.
