Maharashtra's Yerwada Jail opens for tourism, see more in pics

The state government of Maharashtra launched the 'Jail Tourism' initiative from the Central Jail, Yerwada. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray launched the initiative on Tuesday (January 26) via video conferencing. The initiative is taken so as to help students get real-time historical experience.

Many well-known freedom fighters from the Indian independence movement have spent their jail term in Pune's Yerwada Central Jail. 

Freedom fighters such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar were kept in this jail by the British Administration.

Mahatma Gandhi has spent a while in this prison. The famous Poona pact was signed on September 24, 1932 right here in the Yerwada Jail.

The Jail Tourism initiative was launched by CM Uddhav Thackeray via video conference. Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with many other officials was physically present at the Central Jail in Yerwada.

India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was kept in this prison.

During 1975-77 (Emergency period) a number of political leaders were detained in this prison by Indira Gandhi. The political opponent of Indira Gandhi including Balasaheb Deoras (Former RSS chief), Atal Bihari Vajpayee was kept in this central prison.

Yerwada Jail is one of the largest jails in South Asia and is the largest jail in Maharashtra. The jail houses more than 5000 prisoners. The construction of jail has many departments, barracks, cells, security zones in it. The jail has an acre of 512 acres.

Famous personalities such as Anna Hazare, Sanjay Dutt, Abdul Karim Telgi, Arun Gawli have spent their term in this central jail.

26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was kept in this jail. He later was hanged and buried in the Yerwada Central Jail.