Policemen broke my hand for seeking good food: Koda

"Poor food is supplied in the jail. I went to general ward to inspect the food and sat on demonstration to protest. I sought good food and my hand was broken by policemen," Koda told reporters as he was being shifted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for treatment.

Koda's supporters alleged that he was denied good food for last several days. They also alleged he was not served food on time, despite complaints to the jail administration.

According to sources in jail, Koda Monday went to the general ward to get food. When he went there, chaos prevailed at the meal time and police made a baton-charge at the prisoners to disperse them.

In his reaction to the incident, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner, K.K. Soan said: "The upper division prisoner (Koda) went to general ward to protest poor food. Koda sustained injuries in the clashes of the prisoners".

He asked why had Koda gone to the general ward of the prison, and how had the security men allowed him to go there.

Jharkhand Chief Secretary S.K. Chaudhary said the incident, which has raised many questions over security of VVIP prisoners, would be probed. Meanwhile, political parties have condemned the incident.

Koda has been in jail since November 2009 in a Rs.4,000 crore money laundering scam. He and four former ministers are kept in a VIP cell of the jail.