Bengaluru: Jail rules and regulations stand bent and broken when it comes to VVIP ‘guests’ entering the prison. Looks like the same is the case with AIADMK leader VK Sasikala who is serving four years sentence in a 20-year-old Disproportionate Assets case in Bengaluru jail.As per RTI activist Narasimha Murthy, despite a rule that only two visitors could be allowed to meet each inmate, that too once a month, in Sasikala’s case, 19 visitors have met her over 31 days. As per rules, the visits are confined to advocate and family members, but here AIADMK leaders have been lining up to meet Sasikala at the jail, irrespective of the meeting timings of 11 am to 5 pm.

Among the visitors are AIADMK leaders including Deputy Speaker Thambidorai and her nephew TTV Dinakaran, who is also the candidate for the coming by-election in Chennai’s RK Nagar constituency.

It is said that the visits happened due to various political developments happening back in Tamil Nadu. Though a convict serving jail is not allowed to contest polls, he/she can hold positions in the party and here Sasikala is the President of the AIADMK and she is said to be controlling the party through her nephew Mr Dinakaran.

But, Director General of Prisons HN Satyanarayana Rao is quoted saying that the rules about visitors is not rigid or ironclad – the jailor is allowed to use his discretion.

It may be recalled that earlier, the Court had turned down her request for Class-1 cell (with private TV, home-cooked food and non veg meals twice a week).