Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Balakrishna Pillai out on parole; flays VS for hardship in jail

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Minister and Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai, who is serving one-year rigorous imprisonment awarded in the Idamalayar case, was let out on parole for 10 days till April 30. The grant for parole to Balakrishna Pillai was given on Tuesday night and he was freed on Wednesday morning.

Immediately after coming out of the Poojapura jail here, he told mediapersons that he had a tough time in jail. He flayed VS for not providing any facilities in jail. He also said despite media reports of being given `A' class facilities, he did not receive any special treatment. 'Though I had been jailed during emergency period, this was the worst treatment I had ever received in jail,' Pillai complained. He also added that he had lost 5 kg during the jail term. He was all praise for the jail officials whom he said had treated him well.

The parole was granted to Pillai to attend to his wife's medical needs. Since he had filed a plea for parole before the election itself, the EC felt that granting parole during election time would be inappropriate as he might try to take part in election activities.

Along with Pillai 100 others were also granted parole. Pillai has been asked to report to the jail authorities on April 30 after the end of parole. If further extension of parole period is needed Pillai has to file a petition again.

Pillai is the first former minister to be sent to jail in a graft case.

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