Jayalalithaa is now prisoner number 7402

BANGALORE: Soon after the verdict was pronounced, it was inevitable for Jayalalithaa to move to central jail Parappana Agrahara. She underwent a preliminary health check at the jail hospital.

She was put through a medical check in a cell in the women's barracks after she got her prison number, 7402. The high-security prison has no VVIP cell. This was the barracks where former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa spent 24 days after he was convicted in a land denotification case.

Jayalalithaa reportedly requested she be moved to a private hospital as she was feeling uneasy. But she was firmly told she was a convict and the jail manual must be followed. She was told she would be examined by doctors in the jail hospital and if they felt she should be examined or taken to a hospital outside the jail, her request would be considered.

Jayalalithaa's lawyers argued she was a VIP and faced a life threat, but none of their arguments cut ice.

She refused to have lunch in the afternoon, drank a few glasses of water and spoke to her personal security guards, asking them what she would have to wear in prison. "Madam came unprepared and we contacted the Tamil Nadu police intelligence wing to pack some clothes for her. We expect them to reach here later in the evening," said a TN police officer.

Jayalalithaa will be moved to the women's barracks. Till 9.30pm, there were reports that she would be admitted to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology. But after a medical check, sources said she was moved to Barrack 23, an independent cell.