Gita, Upanishads kept Ilyasi ‘strong positive’ in jail

New Delhi: He made sure he didn’t miss out on his daily namaz while in jail but also faithfully read the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads for solace and strength, says former TV anchor Suhaib Ilyasi who was acquitted on charges of murdering his wife this month.  

Going from the heights of fame as a pioneer of crime shows in the country with “India’s Most Wanted” to finding himself as the accused in one of Delhi’s most high-profile murder cases, it has been a rough 18-year ride, said Ilyasi.  

A reading of the Hindu scriptures helped see him through the darkest days behind bars in Tihar Jail, added the 52-year-old, who describes himself as a “devout Muslim”.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing his wife to Anu death in 2000 and was acquitted by the Delhi high court on October 5, which ruled that it was a case of suicide. Ilyasi’s wife Anju was rushed to a hospital on January 11, 2000 with stab wounds she received at her East Delhi residence. She was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Her mother and sister filed a case against him.

Though he spent most of the 18 years out on bail with the threat of prison hanging like the proverbial sword of Damocles over his head, a trial court sentenced him on December 20 last year.

Ilyasi moved the high court challenging his conviction and his faith in the judiciary paid off.

“When the trial court pronounced my conviction, for a moment I felt the ground beneath my feet give way. However, I had full faith in the judiciary and was sure that the truth will ultimately prevail.

“But inside the prison, one feels moments of endless wait, of uncertainty and insecurity. It was in those moments that I found solace in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads,” Mr Ilyasi told said.

Those were dark days, he recalled, but a reading of the scriptures and his innate faith ensured that his positivity was not overpowered and he “emerged stronger and wiser” from his nine months in captivity.  

He recited a verse from the Upanishads and said, “The teachings kept me strong, positive and motivated.” He turned into a hardcore vegetarian and shared the teachings of the holy books with his fellow inmates.