A spectrum of activities for Raja in Tihar

Behind high walls, barbed wires and under the gaze of ward monitors, former telecom minister Andimuthu Raja, arrested in the 2G scam, is settling into a routine at Tihar jail. Abhishek Sharan reports.

Behind high walls, barbed wires and under the gaze of ward monitors, Andimuthu Raja is settling into a routine at Tihar jail.

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Arrested in the 2G scam, the former telecom minister, lodged in a single-prisoner cell in jail 1, spends time keeping fit, informed and busy.

The day begins at 5 with an hour of pranayam, or breathing exercises, — Baba Ramdev is the inspiration. Then it’s time to be counted, by the head warder.

A quick breakfast — a glass of tea and two slices of bread with newspapers on the side — follows. Raja takes time reading his papers — brought by sewadars (convicts tasked with house-keeping) vying for his attention — especially the scam updates.

It’s time for Hindi ‘tutorials’. Ward-mate SS Rathi, a former assistant commissioner of police convicted for killing two persons in Connaught Place, is the person he practises Hindi with. At 8.30am, a blue police van takes him to the Patiala House courts.

Evenings are split between badminton, reading Tamil fiction and history. Tamil TV programmes lull him to sleep when the lights go out at 10.30pm. Another day and the jig is the same.