Bangalore. Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail here in connection with Karnataka’s infamous Renukaswamy murder case, may be shifted to another jail. Both the Chief Minister and the Home Minister hinted at this on Tuesday, saying that the authorities are in the process of taking such a decision. A picture of Darshan sitting on a chair in the jail premises with three others, including a habitual offender, and smoking with a coffee mug in his hand went viral on social media on Sunday, sparking a controversy.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “We have asked for an inquiry into Darshan’s case. Nine people, including the prison’s chief superintendent, have been suspended and if anyone else has to be (suspended) during the investigation, we will do it.” Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister said that based on the investigation report, “if (Darshan and others) have to be sent somewhere else, we will send them.” When asked if Darshan would be transferred to Bellary prison, he said, “The police will decide where to send him.” Home Minister G Parameshwara said an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer has been appointed to review all the arrangements in the state’s prisons. He said the government cannot take a decision on transferring Darshan to another prison.
In response to a question, Parameshwar told reporters, “The jail authorities will take a decision on this after consulting the court and other authorities. The government does not decide on this. There are some rules because they (Darshan and other co-accused) are undertrial prisoners, based on that the authorities will take a decision.” When asked when the authorities will take a decision, he said, “They will take a decision in the coming few days.” After a preliminary inquiry into giving “special facilities” to Darshan, nine jail officials, including the chief superintendent of Parappana Agrahara jail, were suspended on Monday for their “lapse”. Three FIRs have also been registered under sections of the Prison Act and the Indian Penal Code (BNS).
Those sitting with Darshan in the photographs include habitual offender Wilson Garden Naga and other inmates Nagaraj (the actor’s manager and co-accused) and Kulla Seena, convicted in a murder case. Meanwhile, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand on Tuesday said the police have requested the transfer of Darshan and other accused and miscreants in the Renukaswamy murder case from the Parappana Agrahara prison here to other prisons.
Admitting that some lapses were found in the jail, Parmeshwar said that prisoners were allowed to move from one barrack to another and this was recorded in CCTV cameras. He said, “Therefore, action was taken against the jail officials.” He said, “Nine officials have been suspended, they will be replaced. The Chief Superintendent and Superintendent have also been suspended, as well as others who gave chairs, coffee, cigarettes to Darshan and his group… All these things have been captured in CCTV, on the basis of which all of them have been suspended.”
The minister said that the matter is being investigated and an officer of the Indian Police Service will also be appointed. He said, “Based on the results of the officer’s investigation, we will find some permanent solution.” Parmeshwar said that he has received information that a report was submitted earlier on prison reforms. At the national level too, a report has been prepared on police and prison reforms which was submitted during the Manmohan Singh government. He said that necessary steps will be taken after considering them.
To a question about several other high-profile inmates, such as former MP Prajwal Revanna, being allegedly given “royal facilities”, Parameshwara said all arrangements in the jail will be reviewed after the Darshan incident and an Indian Police Service officer has been appointed for this.
Parmeshwar said, “The officer will be asked to review all aspects of the prison, other prisons as well because lapses have been found by others as well. He will review all these.” Dayanand told reporters that three FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident in the prison. He said that one case will be investigated by the Assistant Commissioner of Police while the other two cases will be investigated by the Inspector. Regarding the cases, Dayanand said that court permission is needed and the police is in the process of obtaining it for a detailed investigation.
He said, “On Saturday, when a team of the Central Crime Branch went to inspect all the barracks of the jail based on information about some criminals being involved in illegal activities, we did not find any objectionable material or evidence. Now we have received information that some things could have been taken somewhere else before we reached there. Investigation is going on in this regard.” Dayanand said that many criminal elements are lodged in Parappana Agrahara jail after their arrest under the Karnataka Control of Organized Crime Act (KCOCA).
He said, “Since there is a fear that they (criminals) may be involved in illegal activities, we have requested them to be shifted somewhere else. Along with this, the criminal elements involved in the Renukaswamy murder case have also been asked to be shifted to another place.”