New Delhi, Aug. 24: Air-conditioned office-cum-residence. Wi-fi connection. Five landline phones. Four computers. Three laptops. An LED TV. Three round-the-clock police guards.

The only blot in this five-star comfort: Tihar's high-security prison walls.

But nobody can say Subrata Roy has been living off the state. The Sahara group chief, in jail since March last year for not repaying investors, has been footing the bill for the "royal" treatment.

An enquiry by The Telegraph has revealed that the Sahara group has so far spent over Rs 60 lakh so that its boss can raise the money needed to get bail.

Jail officials said Roy was possibly the only prisoner who has been allowed such facilities in the 57 years of Asia's biggest prison.

They confirmed the bill, too. "Such royal life is unprecedented and unheard of inside the jail. The bill for the comfort is estimated to be over Rs 60 lakh," said a senior prison official.

In July last year the Supreme Court had moved Roy from his 5ft-by-10ft cell to the 700sqft conference room, along with the two arrested Sahara directors, to help him negotiate the sale of three overseas hotels he owns and raise the Rs 10,000 crore he needs to step out of jail.

Over the past year, the conference room - normally used for meetings by the director-general (prisons) - has been turned into a "digital" office-cum-residence for Roy with video-conferencing and Wi-fi facilities.

The room has three soft beds, an attached western-style bathroom and an anteroom, facilities not allowed to ordinary prisoners who sleep on the floor.

Roy is also allowed access to five land phones, four computers and three laptops. The comforts include an LED TV. A few days ago, the top court extended his stay in the conference room to September 30.

Tihar jail spokesperson Mukesh Prasad said Roy, 66, was being given all the amenities as directed by the Supreme Court. "But he is paying for the facilities, including the rent for the conference hall, electricity charges, salary of the three policemen, phone bills and others."

A source in Tihar said the jail does provide "concessions" to high-profile inmates. "But Roy is enjoying five-star comforts that are unbelievable."

The Sahara chief is also enjoying some "unofficial" favours. In the absence of professional masseurs, fellow under-trials are keeping Roy's circulation healthy. "Because of his age, we have asked two fellow inmates to take care of him and he pays them a salary every month," said an official, who didn't want to be named.

Roy, sources said, also gets home-cooked food. "He loves fish and mutton and also has a sweet tooth," said a source. Ordinary prisoners have to be satisfied with roti, daal and sabzi.

Roy has also been allowed two secretaries and a computer technician at his own cost.

Sahara officials said whatever facility their boss was enjoying was according to the court's directives. "And we are paying for it," said a spokesperson.

A jail official said Lalit Modi, the former IPL czar who is himself embroiled in a money-laundering controversy, was negotiating the deal to raise Roy's bail bond. "A friend in need is a friend indeed," the official quipped.