2 weeks ago
Special team probes how Prajwal Revanna got phone in jail
A man named Prajwal Revanna is in prison after being found guilty of a serious crime.
Prisoners are not allowed to have mobile phones, but Prajwal was caught using one inside the jail.
Now the police have formed a special team to find out how the phone got into his cell.
They also want to know if any prison workers helped him hide it.
A video of him talking on the phone inside the jail appeared online, but nobody has confirmed if the video is real.
The phone's SIM card seems to have been working since March.
Before the phone was found, guards searched his room and found nothing.
A special police team later found the phone along with a pen drive.
Because of this, he was moved from a bigger cell to a room with about 20 other prisoners.
The prison also punished some workers who may not have been doing their jobs properly.
A special team led by DIG Prisons and Reforms Jinendra Khanagavi was formed by the Karnataka Police Department to investigate how the mobile phone reached Prajwal Revanna's prison cell.
Revanna was found using the phone inside Bengaluru Central Prison on Tuesday, and preliminary findings indicate the SIM card had been active since March.
A Central Crime Branch (CCB) raid recovered a blue Redmi 5G mobile phone, a charger, a blue pocket notebook and a black SanDisk pen drive, reportedly with obscene videos, from his barrack.
He was shifted from a VIP cell to a cell housing around 20 other convicted prisoners and instructed to wear the mandatory prison uniform.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge ordered the raid after noticing lapses during a visit two weeks earlier; Assistant Superintendent Eeranna was suspended and Jail Superintendent Anshukumar was issued a show-cause notice.
- Who
- Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, convicted sexual offender serving a life sentence, and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda; authorities led by DGP Prisons Alok Kumar and DIG Jinendra Khanagavi.
- What
- A mobile phone was found in his prison cell, prompting a special investigation into how it entered and whether prison staff were involved.
- Where
- Bengaluru Central Prison (Parappana Agrahara), Karnataka.
- When
- The phone was found on Tuesday, with the announcement made on Wednesday; a prior barrack search took place on August 6.
- Why
- Authorities suspect lapses or possible collusion by prison personnel in allowing banned items, including mobile phones and SIM cards reportedly originating from Andhra Pradesh, to reach inmates.
Reform & Oversight Focus
Disciplinary & Security Focus
Prison staff accountability
Reform & Oversight Focus
The focus should be on systemic transparency and reforms to prevent future security failures, with staff cooperating in the investigation.
Disciplinary & Security Focus
Any prison personnel found to have colluded with or facilitated inmates should face strict disciplinary and legal action for breaching security.
Political dimension of the raid
Reform & Oversight Focus
The raid followed lapses noticed by the Home Minister during a visit two weeks earlier and was conducted with the Chief Minister's approval as a proper procedurally ordered action.
Disciplinary & Security Focus
The development has taken on a political dimension, coming a day before the Monsoon Assembly Session, which raises questions about the timing of the action.
Key facts
- Person of interest
- Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP and convicted sexual offender
- Sentence
- Life sentence in a rape case
- Investigation
- Special team led by DIG Prisons and Reforms Jinendra Khanagavi
- Location
- Bengaluru Central Prison (Parappana Agrahara), Karnataka
- SIM card
- Active since March, per preliminary findings
- Items recovered
- Blue Redmi 5G phone, charger, blue pocket notebook, black SanDisk pen drive
- Action taken
- Shifted from VIP cell to a cell with around 20 other prisoners
- Officials acted against
- Assistant Superintendent Eeranna suspended; Jail Superintendent Anshukumar issued show-cause notice
Quotes
Priyank Kharge
Karnataka Home Minister
“"I got the CCB raid conducted. A raid requires the permission of the Home Department. I had visited Parappana Agrahara two weeks ago and noticed certain lapses. Therefore, after obtaining the Chief Minister’s approval, I ordered the raid."”
thehansindia.com
“"Amid tight security, how are mobile phones reaching the cells of prisoners? Whether there is any collusion by jail authorities will also be probed."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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