Jail didnt bother me, heart with Jiah: Sooraj - Page 2

Let's talk about your 23-day jail ordeal?
I got a call from the police station saying, 'Suraj, please come for interrogation to Juhu police station.' I got ready and got down my building where these four people put me in a car and drove me to the police station where I was arrested. They took my phone, iPad, drives and laptop that I have still not got back. I was in the Santacruz lock-up for four days. I live alone in Juhu and had not met my parents till then. For those four days, I did not have a bath or brush my teeth, remained in the same clothes, had no pillow or a blanket. There was one wall fan and I shared Odomos with the guy who I shared the cell with. There was pee on the floor on both sides as the guy I was sharing the cell with was 20 and told me he had raped two girls and was a drug addict. There would be vomit on both sides and paan and tambaku spat on the floor. They did not let me talk to my family in the lock-up for those four days and I first met my mom on the fourth day in court. I did not get to talk to her, but just took a sip from the water she was carrying. I was then taken to Arthur Road jail that is considered one of the dirtiest jails. People say if you have gone through Arthur Road jail, you can go through any jail in India. Tihar is like a five-star in comparison. Initially, the hygiene would bother me but I got used to it in my first few days.

Talk about Arthur Road Jail?
People who have been in that jail for long are better than the best lawyers in the country. They were amused by the fact that I was in for such a kachcha case for which there was no proof. There are about 10 gangs there and fights and stabbing take place routinely. I saw them stabbing each other using spoons. Before I went in, they knew I was coming in. I was kept in what they called the 'unda cell' where they put the biggest terrorists. Kasab's room had been just adjacent to mine. It's a large secure egg-shaped cell with seven sub-cells and anyone in each of these cells can see others within the unda cell. In my cell, there were two older non-criminal men, one was a builder and the other, an income tax professional. They put me with them so that I would not be stabbed or subjected to extortion outside. During my days in Arthur Road Jail, I was not allowed to step out of my cell and was served food there as they felt it would be dangerous for me if I went out. 16-year-old kids were sexually abused there. We had just one fan outside our cell. The light was always kept on during the night and day and these were big lights on your face.

What were your thoughts emotionally while you were in jail?
I had no fear or guilt and in my heart I knew that just because we had broken up, it could not be considered wrong. I used to help her and have saved her life a couple of times before, so I knew I would get out. But I was in shock that my girlfriend was not there any more. The police interrogation, jail food, hygiene was a small price to pay as someone's life had gone. I did not cry in front of my parents as I knew they would feel bad. I cried when I came back home hugging my pillow.