Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Bengaluru Jail Phone Probe Expands to Nine Arrests
Police are investigating how mobile phones and SIM cards entered a Bengaluru prison.
The investigation began after officers found a phone and other items in a cell used by Prajwal Revanna and Prathap Rai.
Revanna is a convicted sexual offender and former member of Parliament.
Police first detained five people connected with that discovery.
They later announced nine arrests in three related cases.
Some of those arrested were prison warders and some were inmates.
Police say phones were sold inside the prison for much more money than they cost outside.
Investigators are still checking whether more people were involved.
Police initially detained five people over a phone and SIM card found in a cell used by Prajwal Revanna and Prathap Rai.
A broader investigation later led to nine arrests, including three prison warders and four inmates, across three cases.
The August 11 search recovered a smartphone, SIM card, charger and notebook from the prison’s Security Division.
Police allege phones bought outside for about Rs 10,000 were resold inside prison for Rs 75,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
Investigators are examining whether additional prison staff, inmates or frisking personnel helped smuggle prohibited devices into the jail.
- Who
- Bengaluru police, prison warders, inmates and other alleged facilitators; the investigation involves Prajwal Revanna and Prathap Rai.
- What
- An investigation into the alleged purchase, smuggling, possession and resale of mobile phones and SIM cards inside Bengaluru Central Prison.
- When
- A key search took place on August 11; arrests and court proceedings occurred during August and September, with Revanna and Rai returned to prison on September 10.
- Where
- Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- Police allege that prohibited phones and SIM cards were brought into the prison and exchanged or sold among inmates.
- Initial arrests
- Five people were detained in connection with the phone and SIM card recovered during the August 11 search.
- Broader arrests
- Police later announced nine arrests across three separate cases, including three warders and four inmates.
- Items recovered
- Officers recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, chargers and a notebook or pen drive in different searches.
- Reported resale prices
- Police said phones costing about Rs 10,000 outside were resold inside for Rs 75,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
- SIM card price
- Investigators said SIM cards typically changed hands inside the prison for Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000.
- Court custody
- Several accused were remanded to judicial custody after police questioning; Revanna and Rai underwent three days of police custody.
- Wider seizures
- Prison department data cited in the report said nearly 300 mobile phones had been seized from Karnataka prisons since the start of the year.
