The 2G effect: Idli, dosa, vada, sambar in Tihar

Tihar jail now has a new menu. Given the number of high-profile accused, some of them from the southern states, currently in the prison, the menu has been changed to suit their tastes.


South Indian food has found its way into Tihar’s kitchens.
The canteens of jail number one, four and six now serve both north and South Indian cuisine. The new menu, prepared by specially trained cooks, includes standard south Indian fare like dosas, uttappams, idlis, sambhar and coconut chutney.

The cuisine first appeared in the menu of jail number one in February, after former telecom minister and DMK leader A Raja’s arrest for his alleged role in 2G spectrum allocation scam, jail sources said.

The menu in jail number 6 changed when Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi’s name appeared in the 2G spectrum scam. The female inmates of that jail who were responsible for the canteen were immediately trained to cook South Indian food, the jail sources said. The same happened in jail number four where Kalaignar TV’s managing director Sharad Kumar, a co-conspirator in the 2G scam, is lodged.

Tihar provides its inmates three free meals a da that include rotis, rice, dal and one vegetable dish. The canteen earlier served cholay bhaturay, puri sabzi, namkeen, samosas, sandwiches and tea.

Sources added that the DSP of Tamil Nadu Special Police’s cook trained the jail inmates in charge of the canteen. The Tamil Nadu Special Police are in charge of securing the jail’s outer perimeter.

The new menu inside the three jails has found favour with the other inmates as well. Inmates get a maximum of Rs1,000 per visit, enough to buy coupons for investment in the canteen food.