Bonding over bites: cell-mates Hasan Ali and a 'Shiney' star

Since the money laundering Arthur Road Jail inmate received lavish home-cooked meals on health grounds, he shared them regularly with his fellow inmate, actor Shiney Ahuja

Since the money laundering Arthur Road Jail inmate received lavish home-cooked meals on health grounds, he shared them regularly with his fellow inmate, actor Shiney Ahuja
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Shiney Ahuja fans were overjoyed when the disgraced Bollywood star was granted bail by the Bombay High Court about ten days ago. But going by recent reports, the actor wasn't so poorly off behind the bars at Arthur Road Jail. Insiders have informed that Ahuja spent 'luxurious' hours with fellow inmate, horse breeder and alleged money launderer Hasan Ali, even a week prior to his release. Ali, a patient of severe diabetes, had obtained permission to receive and consume home-cooked food in jail. Since he was a small eater, he shared the remaining portion of his meals with Ahuja.


Illustration/Jishu Dev Malakar

On March 30 earlier this year, a Sewri fast track sessions court had sentenced Ahuja to a seven year term in jail, after finding him guilty of raping his 20-year-old maid at his Andheri residence, in 2009.u00a0 He had been imprisoned at Arthur Road Jail. Coincidentally, Ali was given the same cell as Ahuja, along with two other inmates. On health grounds, the courts had allowed him to have home-cooked food even in jail. Since Ali ate only 30 per cent of the food sent from his home, Ahuja partook of the remaining 70 per cent. Sources also revealed that Ahuja exercised twice in prison daily, possibly to shed the calories that Hasan's elaborate meals would add to his system. "I have no idea about food," said Ishwar Bagadia, Ali's lawyer.

Strapped for cash
An inmate also revealed that Shiney had borrowed money from him a few months back, which he did not return. Shiney needed a sum of Rs 20 to buy milk in prison one morning. "Ahuja requested me to lend him Rs 20 purchase, saying he was short of money. He promised that he would return the sum aftre the court granted him bail," claimed the inmate, on condition of anonymity.u00a0Ahuja was first arrested in the month of June in 2009, after which he was lodged at Arthur Road Jail for the duration of three months. Bombay High Court thereafter granted him bail on October 1, 2009.

The Other Side
Several attempts were made to reach Ahuja on his cell phone, but it remained switched off.