BENGALURU: Two days after videos showing preferential treatment to inmates at Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara went viral, Home Minister
Dr G Parameshwara on Monday suspended a Superintendent and an Assistant Superintendent, and transferred the Chief Superintendent, following a high-level meeting with senior prison and police officials.
He said that henceforth, an IPS officer will be appointed Chief Superintendent of Central Jail, and later in the day, IPS officer Anshu Kumar was moved to the post. Jail Superintendent Magery and Assistant Superintendent Ashok Bhajantri were suspended, while Chief Superintendent K Suresh was transferred.
The action follows circulation of videos on Sunday, showing undertrial inmates dancing and consuming alcohol inside the prison. On Saturday, a video had surfaced showing suspected terror operative Zuhaib Hameed Shakeel Manna, serial rapist and killer Umesh Reddy and actor Tarun, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case, using mobile phones and watching television.
Earlier, nine prison officials, including the Chief Superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, were suspended after photographs and videos of actor Darshan smoking a cigarette inside jail went viral.
According to sources, during the meeting, Parameshwara slammed prison officials for bringing disrepute to the department, and questioned how liquor, phones and pen cameras entered jails despite repeated searches and security. He demanded answers on who was in charge in 2023, but officials remained silent. The minister noted that without officials’ involvement, this was not possible, and ordered rotation of officers and Karnataka State Industrial Security Force personnel deployed for prison security.
Speaking to reporters at the Department of Prisons and Correctional Services Headquarters after the meeting, he said recent developments in state prisons were reviewed.
“Some of the videos in circulation are from 2023, not recent ones. Only one or two are from the past three or four months. We discussed who was in charge in 2023, 2024 and now, and obtained explanations from the respective officers,” he said.
Considering the recent incidents, a high-powered committee has been formed to inspect prisons across the state and submit a comprehensive report within a month. The ADGP (Law and Order) will head the committee with other senior officials, and District Collectors and Superintendents of Police will serve as associate members. Based on the report, strict action will be taken and officials found guilty may be suspended or dismissed from service, he said.
Command centre, recruitment drive
A command centre will soon be operational at the Prison headquarters to monitor prison activities across the state. Senior officers, including ADGP (Prisons), will oversee the system, which is expected to become operational within 15 days. Also, a technical audit of all prison infrastructure and CCTV systems will be conducted. Security will be strengthened by doubling technical equipment, including baggage scanners, across all prisons.
The Cabinet has approved Rs 2 crore for installing additional CCTV cameras and Rs 15 crore for erecting 10 communication towers. Tenders will be called immediately.
The government has approved recruitment of 197 warders, 22 instructors and 3 assistant superintendents. Proposals have been received to recruit 983 warders and 17 jailers, which are under process.
