Kannada Actor Darshan Being Shifted To Bellary Jail After Row Over VIP Treatment At Bengaluru Prison

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is in judicial custody, in a murder case is being shifted to another prison after a picture of the actor where he was seen hanging out with three others, including a rowdy sheeter, on the lawns of Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Karnataka had gone viral on Sunday.

The picture sparked a massive row over the alleged special treatment being given to the actor.

In the picture, the actor was seen sitting on a chair, holding a cigarette and a coffee mug. In addition to this, a purported video of Darshan speaking to a person over a video call from the prison too had surfaced on social media.

“In the Darshan case we have asked for an inquiry to be done, nine people including the Chief Superintendent of the prison have been suspended, in case anyone else has to be (suspended) we will do it,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

On being asked if Darshan would be shifted to Ballary jail, the Chief Minister said, “Where to send, police will decide.”

Home Minister G Parameshwara said an IPS officer has been appointed to review all the systems in the state’s prisons. He added that the government cannot take a decision on shifting Darshan to another prison.

“It will be decided by the prison authorities in consultation with authorities from the court and others. The government doesn’t decide it. There are certain norms as they (Darshana and co-accused) are under trial, based on which authorities will decide,” Parameshwara said.

Asked as to when the authorities would decide, he said, “They will decide in a couple of days.” Nine prison officials, including the Chief Superintendent of the Parappana Agrahara jail, were suspended on Monday over their “lapses” after a preliminary probe into “special treatment” to Darshan.

Also, three FIRs were registered, including against Darshan, under sections of the Prisons Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Those seated with Darshan in the photo are rowdy sheeter: Wilson Garden Naga, and other inmates Nagaraj (the actor’s manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena, a convict in a murder case.

Meanwhile, city Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that Bengaluru Police has sought shifting of Darshan and other accused in the Renukaswamy murder case and other rowdy elements from Parappana Agrahara jail here to other prisons.

Noting that certain lapses were found in the prison, Parameshwara said inmates were allowed to move from one barrack to another and it is captured in the CCTVs. “So, action was taken against prison officials.”

“Nine officials have been suspended, they will be replaced. Even the Chief Superintendent and the Superintendent have been suspended, also others who have helped Darshan and group by supplying them with chairs, coffee, cigarettes…all these things have been captured in CCTV, based on that all of them have been suspended,” he said.

The inquiry is in progress, the Minister said, adding, an IPS officer will be appointed for further probe.

“Based on the findings given by the officer, we will have to find some permanent solutions. After going through the report, we will do it,” he said.

He added that he had come to know about a report submitted earlier for reforms in prisons. Also, there is a national-level report on police and prison reforms submitted during the tenure of the Manmohan Singh government. He would get them and take necessary action.

To a question about alleged “royal treatment” also being given to other high profile prisoners like former MP Prajwal Revanna, Parameshwara said after the Darshan incident, all the systems in the prison will be reviewed, and an IPS officer has been appointed for this.

“The officer will be asked to review the entire thing at the prison, also in other prisons as lapses have been found in other persons too. They will all be reviewed,” he added.

Speaking to reporters here, Dayananda said that three cases have been registered in connection with the incident at the prison. One of the cases will be investigated by an Assistant Commissioner of Police while two other cases by inspectors.

Talking about the cases, he said on matters concerning prisons, court’s permission is required and police are in the process of getting it for a detailed investigation.

“On Saturday, when a team of the Central Crime Branch had gone to check all the barracks of the prison, based on information that certain rowdies were involved in illegal activities, we did not find any incriminating materials or evidence then. Now, we have got information that certain things could have been shifted elsewhere before we reached there. Investigation is on regarding this,” he said.

Dayananda said that a lot of rowdy elements are lodged in Parappana Agrahara jail following their arrest under the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA).

“As there are chances that they (rowdies) may get involved in illegal activities, we have requested them to be shifted elsewhere. Along with rowdy elements, those involved in the Renukaswamy murder case, we have also asked them to be shifted to another place,” he added.

(With inputs from PTI)