Dy CM Shivakumar responsible for special treatment of Darshan in prison, says K'taka Lop

(MENAFN-IANS) Bengaluru, Aug 26 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in India's Karnataka Parliament R Ashoka (BJP) on Monday accused Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of granting special privileges to actor Darshan in jail.

“Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is responsible for the luxurious treatment given to Darshan in jail. Shivakumar has met the actor in jail and assured him of all possible help,” the senior BJP politician said while speaking to the media.

He also demanded answers from the Congress government on the reports of special treatment in prison given to Darshan, an accused in a kidnapping and murder case. “How did the mobile phone get into the prison? The inmates are given cigarettes, coffee and intoxicants without any fear,” Ashoka said.

“The law and order system has already broken down in the state. The number of rapes and murders is increasing. The ministers and MPs are worried about the survival of the government. The Congress government should give a befitting response to the jail incidents. It is of no use if they claim that an inquiry is being initiated into the matter,” the BJP leader said.

He said, “Four days ago, a raid was carried out in the Central Jail. Authorities confiscated mobile phones and banned the inmates from using any kind of drugs. How did the mobile phone get into the jail four days later to take the photograph of Darshan drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette?”

Commenting on the development, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Monday said it was a ploy to destroy evidence and threaten witnesses. “The Congress government has failed in the Darshan case. Darshan sitting in a shabby sweater is a strategy to destroy evidence and threaten witnesses through fear. The Congress government is not taking Darshan's case seriously. Given what has happened, it seems like the Congress government is protecting him. It seems like the Congress government is hatching a conspiracy in the Darshan case,” Joshi said.

“I will write a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Darshan case. You have suspended the police officials. What have you been doing all these days? Several politicians are involved in the case,” Joshi said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister G. Parameshwara has arrived at Bengaluru Central Jail to conduct an inspection.

After the video showing preferential treatment of actor Darshan in prison sparked severe criticism, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday directed the authorities to shift the accused actor and his associates to other prisons.

Darshan is being held in Bengaluru Central Jail with 13 other accused. His partner, the main accused Pavithra Gowda, is also among the 13 accused. Another four accused are being held in Tumakuru District Jail.

CM Siddaramaiah has also ordered that Darshan and his associates be shifted to various jails across the state. The CM has also directed the Attorney General of Karnataka to visit the jail and submit a detailed report.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Prison Department has suspended seven staff members, including two guards, for allowing Kannada actor Darshan to smoke a cigarette and drink coffee in prison.

The gruesome murder of Renukaswamy took place on June 8 in Bengaluru. He was kidnapped from his hometown Chitradurga, brought to Bengaluru, kept in a shed and tortured to death.

After the murder, his body was thrown into a canal. The incident came to light when security personnel at a private residence saw the body being dragged behind him by a pack of dogs.

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