With just 3 visitors in 14 days, Sasikala is now an ordinary prisoner

BENGALURU: AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, lodged in central jail at Parappana Agrahara , has been receiving fewer visitors in the past week.

The AIADMK general secretary has been brooding since her nephew TTV Dhinakaran was arrested a few days ago for allegedly trying to bribe Election Commission officials.

Only three people have come from Tamil Nadu to meet Sasikala since April 15, sources said.


According to records obtained under the Right to Information Act, 19 people, other than Sasikala's advocates, visited her in March-April. "Among the three visitors in the recent past, one was a doctor from Chennai who is also a close relative of Sasikala," a source said.

"Her sister-in-law and fellow convict in the illegal assets case, J Ilavarasi, has health problems and is in the jail hospital most of the time. Ilavarasi is being treated for respiratory problems. So Sasikala is left alone in the cell," a source said.

Rules for common convicts say a prisoner can meet relatives once in 15 days. The prison superintendent has powers to allow more than the stipulated number of visitors. Denying that Sasikala was getting VIP treatment, jail officials had earlier said they would cut down the number of visitors.

According to another source, Sasikala is glued to the TV most of the time. "The setbacks have upset her. She was more confident when she came to the prison than she is now," the prison source said.

DG (Prisons) Sathyanarayana Rao did not respond to TOI's calls and messages.