Jitender Singh Tomar in Tihar cell along with two pickpockets

Former Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar’s bail plea will come up for hearing on Monday. But till then, the AAP leader -- accused of faking his graduation and law degrees -- has two suspected pickpockets for company in Delhi’s notorious Tihar Jail.

Former Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar’s bail plea will come up for hearing on Monday. But till then, the AAP leader -- accused of faking his graduation and law degrees -- has two suspected pickpockets for company in Delhi’s notorious Tihar Jail.

Tomar was sent to judicial custody for one day on Sunday after his 12-day police remand ended. In an application to the court, Tomar had requested to be housed in a separate cell as he was reportedly apprehensive of spending time with “notorious criminals”. The court directed officials to make arrangements “as per rules”.

However, the infamously over-crowded prison had only cell number 8 on offer for Tomar, sources said, adding that the cell is meant for “first-time offenders”.

The duo keeping him company in the jail cell were reportedly excited to have a former minister under the same roof.

“The buzz about Tomar being jailed in this cell had been on for a while. When the inmates got the news they were excited. They inquired if Tomar will dine with them at night and sleep under the same roof. The two inmates are petty offenders and have never met any celebrity. They were excited about Tomar staying with them and asked if he will be there for at least two weeks,” sources said.

Tomar reached the jail around 6.30pm and was straight taken to the cell.

In his application, Tomar had also requested to be taken to the prison in a private van instead of the jail van. “He said that he does not want to go to Tihar in the blue jail van with barbed windows which takes all other prisoners. He requested that a private van be arranged for him due to security reasons,” a police source said.

Tomar will be produced in the court on Monday.