Agarwal, owner of Haldiram’s Prabhuji brand, is serving time in Alipore Central Jail, after he was sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court last week in a 2005 attempt to murder case. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday admitted his appeal, challenging the verdict.

According to jail authorities, Agarwal like other convicts will undergo rigorous labour. “All convicts have to work and give labour. Prabhu Shankar Agarwal is a life convict and he will be no exception. We have decided to allot him the job of a ‘labour’ in our jail garden. The decision was taken on Wednesday,” said a senior jail official. “He will get Rs 18 daily according to our norms. He will be paid the wage of a non-skilled labour since he has no experience in gardening,” the officer added.

According to jail sources, life convicts are entitled to labour, which includes working as carpenter or gardener, apart from other odd jobs. Agarwal’s job will be taking care of plants, watering them, planting new plants, applying manure, trimming bushes and other gardening jobs.

According to jail authorities, Agarwal will be formally given the job this week.Rules say, in the initial three months, considered probationary period, he will not be paid. After three months, he will get Rs 18 per day as a non-skilled worker. Semi-skilled workers get Rs 21 and skilled workers Rs 25.

“We will open an account for him in Indian Bank. Fifty per cent of the money he will earn per month will be deposited in his bank account. Agarwal is free to spend the rest of the money in jail,” said a senior officer.

On Tuesday, his family members were allowed to meet him for the first time. “They gave Agarwal fruits and met him. We have allowed him to buy mineral water from the jail canteen, after depositing money at the office,” said an officer.