Black Warrant

Several years ago (2003, I think), I organised an eye screening camp at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. We ran this in partnership with the most affable Dr Narpat Solanki and involved our NCC cadets and NSS volunteers from Jain College. During the camp in the prison hospital, we came across several types of people - convicts, under trials, and staff from all backgrounds. Visit of one particular gentleman stands out. It was post-lunch and we were to end the camp in an hour or so. We were told to expect an important visitor - ???????? ???????. I assumed it would be the Prison Superintendent. Suddenly there was some commotion and a gentleman in a silk kurta pyjama was escorted in by the jail wardens and few others. I guided him to the registration counter when an enthusiastic staff whipped out the registration form from his person saying “Sir, I have already filled it.” He was smiling all along, shook hands with many of us and left the camp after ascertaining he had good sight. He was Abdul Karim Telgi of the stamp paper scam fame. He very clearly enjoyed a VIP status and the staff was only too eager to keep him happy. He also had a couple of young boys as his assistants. I am narrating this because I just finished reading a book titled *Black Warrant* (Sunil Gupta and Sunetra Choudhury) which instantly brought back memories of our limited time inside the Central Prison in Bengaluru.

Written in the first person, the book provides an inside account of some famous prisoners and executions (hence the name Black Warrant) - Charles Sobhraj, Afzal Guru, Manu Sharma, and many more. Gupta retired in 2016 as the Legal Officer of Tihar Jail and has seen the underbelly of India’s most populous prison inside out. It also talks of the unholy nexus that favours the rich and famous even when they are serving time.

Finally, it reminds us of another important reform agenda for India - that of our prison system.