BENGALURU: The Commissioner for Road Safety and Traffic deposed before the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) stating there was reliable information that AIADMK leader V K Sasikala visited the house belonging to a Hosur MLA, near Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara. Appearing before ACB on August 19 in response to its July 31 notice, Roopa stated that Sasikala’s visit to Hosur MLA ’s house from the jail may be ascertained through footage from CCTV cameras at the entrance of the jail and the cameras between Gate 1 and Gate 2.
Reiterating her allegations, Roopa stated that Sasikala has ‘managed’ to live the life of a Class-1 prisoner against the court order, although she was not considered as a Class-A or Class-1 prisoner. She was convicted in a disproportionate assets case. Roopa also submitted a CD with four video clippings. In one of the clippings, Sasikala is seen entering the jail from out s ide, wherein she is holding bags that look like shopping bags. In this video clip, there are three male prison warders in uniform guarding the gate and also a male convict.
The female-barracks do not have men guarding the gates. Therefore, this is at the front gate of the jail and the video clip shows Sasikala and Ilavarasi entering the jail from outside, probably after shopping and this has to be investigated, she said in her report. In her report submitted to ACB regarding alleged corruption at Central Prison, Roopa provided a 12-second CCTV footage showing Sasikala and Ilavarasi entering the prison in civilian clothes.
“The ACB issued a notice to Roopa to submit documents/evidences in support of her allegations against retired DGP Sathyanarayana Rao that he provided special treatment to Sasikala, violating prison rules. She had marked the copy of the report, which was submitted to the state government in July, into the alleged irregularities in Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara, to ACB too. Therefore, the ACB which is conducting the preliminary inquiry to know whether there is a prima facie case before prior FIR, issued a notice to Roopa,” sources said.
Explaining how Sasikala was provided special treatment, Roopa said while there is overcrowding in all other cells, there are five cells at Sasikala’s disposal. Sasikala uses the cells to store her clothes, bedding, vessels for cooking, water dispenser and induction stove. She also uses it for yoga and exercise. Special treatment was given to Abdul Karim Telgi, the convict in fake stamp paper scam. “Rao has fraudulently allowed it to be unauthorisedly used by another person. All these amount to offence under Section 13(1)(C) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Roopa claimed. Rao has denied the allegations against him. Neither Sathyanarayana Rao nor ACB officials were available for comments.