Want to buy an iPhone in jail? Possible, says Sunetra Choudhury

As people ambled their way inside the Silver Oak hall at the India Habitat Centre, on Saturday afternoon, a sense of palpable excitement ran through the crowd. Many had an unsettling question to ask Sunetra Choudhury, journalist and author of 'Behind Bars: Prison Tales of India’s Most Famous', “What exactly happens inside our prisons? Is Sanjay Dutt still a celebrity there? Does he sleep and eat with the other inmates?”
Her answer: “If you want to buy an iPhone you can do it in jail, but at a slightly higher price.” In the hour-long session at the Times Lit Fest here, Choudhury gave an eye-opening peek into the hidden secrets of the wealthy and powerful inside India’s prisons.“I met someone who came out of jail and told me what took place inside and I wrote the book,” said Choudhury.
Dressed in a red sweater and white trousers, Choudhury was accompanied by the deputy inspector general (DIG), prisons, of Tamil Nadu, Roopa D Moudgil. Dabbling in equal amounts of humour and anguish, the two women went on to offer startling insights into the pathos and gut-wrenching realities of prison life. “The chronicle of jails is juicier than another episode of Orange is the New Black,” said Choudhury.
“Not everyone goes through the trials and tribulations associated with being an inmate. While one found food wrapped inside a plastic bag on the floor of his cell, jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala had a kitchen to herself,” said the author, as she looked at whistleblower cop Moudgil, who had exposed the corruption scam in Bengaluru’s central prison.
“I wonder if you spoke to Amit Shah,” Moudgil quickly jibed, as the audience were thrown into a fit of laughter.
What made the session especially moving were little tidbits about ‘famous’ prisoners, bringing them closer to the crowd in a humane way. Disturbing as it was to visualize former media baron Peter Mukerjea, in jail for allegedly siphoning off 90 million pounds, pleading to jailors to let him have his “home-cooked rice and fish”, it was equally agonizing to know how, in the absence of non-vegetarian food, families are often forced to mix finely minced meat with spinach curry. “For the common prisoner, he would either have to bribe or threaten his way into getting whatever little he can get. The bribes can range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 and above,” said Choudhury.
The lessons appeared more relatable as she also talked about her struggles. “I had to take my seven-month-old baby along during assignments, often letting him eat Gems so that he would stop wailing. Once, it was such a big story that I ran out of the chocolate,” she laughed.
Moudgil, on the other hand, also detailed how prison officials, especially the junior staff, remain “terrified” of “influential prisoners”. “At times, they do not mind if inmates indulge in intoxicants. It helps to keep scuffles at bay,” she said.
She also said how officers’ training often failed to match up to the environment in which they have to work. “It is an almost-insurmountable feat to match their training with the duties they are assigned,” said the officer.