Inmates at an Indian prison are refusing to leave because the food is so good. Filled at more than twice its capacity, the Parappana Agrahara prison in Bangalore is serving food prepared by ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a Hindu evangelist organization.

Small-time crooks are refusing to apply for bail, swelling the ranks of the prison to 4,700. Also, juvenile offenders are lying to the police about their age to get into the adult prison, according to the AFP.

ISKCON, commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement, started serving its flavorful vegetarian fare in the jail on May 21 under contract from the prisons department.

Lunch and dinner usually include rice, two vegetables, a spicy lentil dish called sambar and buttermilk. Dessert is served once a week and also on national holidays.

“When we are getting tasty, nutritious food three times a day here, why should we go out and commit crimes,” said prisoner Raja Reddy, who has been arrested 20 times in 30 years for theft, robbery and burglary. [ more ]