Chidambaram, who was also the home minister during UPA 2, was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in the INX Media corruption case.
The Congress leader was brought to the jail on Thursday evening and did not get much sleep, they said.
The cell was prepared in advance, with the jail authorities anticipating that the senior Congress leader might turn up in view of the ongoing court cases against him, the officials said.
The veteran Congress leader was brought to Asia’s largest prison from the Rouse Avenue Court amid high security. It took nearly 35 minutes for the jail authorities to bring Chidambaram to the prison from the court.
He is lodged at the prison’s Jail No.7, which usually houses those accused in Enforcement Directorate cases.
The former minister after taking a walk in the prison’s courtyard and reading some religious scriptures, had a light breakfast of tea, porridge and milk around 6 am, the sources said, adding that he was also given newspapers.
Chidambaram has been given no special facilities, except a separate cell and a Western toilet as specified by the court, prison officials said.
Like the other inmates, he will also have access to the prison’s library and can watch television for a specified period.
Before being given his cell, Chidambaram underwent a mandatory medical checkup.
Incidently, his son Karti was also lodged in this cell for 12 days in the same case last year.
Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is being probed by the ED in connection with the AgustaWestland and a bank fraud case, is also lodged in this jail.
