Actor Darshan gets privileges in prison? Pictures show him smoking and drinking coffee

Recently, photos of Kannada actor Darshan, the main accused in a murder case, allegedly receiving special perks in prison have surfaced online, raising questions about preferential treatment given to celebrity inmates. Darshan is currently being held in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru since his arrest on June 11.

In the leaked photos, Darshan is seen sitting in a garden area of ​​the prison, holding a coffee cup in one hand and a cigarette in the other, alongside other inmates, including his manager Nagaraj and notorious rowdy Wilson Garden Naga. The photos have led to speculation about how Darshan got cigarettes in a secure facility and whether he enjoyed inadequate amenities compared to other prisoners.

When contacted, Malini Krishnamoorthy, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Karnataka, told TNM, “I have also been made aware of this photo doing the rounds. We have already sent additional IG Anand Reddy and DIG (Prisons) M Somashekar to the jail. They will go there, investigate and submit a report. We have to find out first if the photo is genuine. If it is genuine, we will take this extremely seriously and take action.”

She added that she was surprised by the photo as a raid was carried out in the jail only on August 24. The raid was carried out by the Central Crime Branch, which lasted for several hours and involved the deployment of 100 policemen led by DCP Abdul Ahad. The raid came after complaints were received that inmates were smuggling drugs and threatening others over the phone, according to reports.

The photos were reportedly taken by another inmate. The fact that Darshan, who is accused of a brutal murder, appears to be enjoying such privileges has sparked public outrage and concerns about the integrity of the prison system.

Earlier, VK Sasikala, former general secretary of AIADMK and a close confidante of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who was jailed in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in 2017, was also reported to have received VIP treatment. She was seen in video footage talking to a visitor for four hours and walking out of her block with a bag. The Siddaramaiah government had transferred senior IPS officer Satyanarayana Rao in the case.

Darshan was arrested for his involvement in the murder of a Chitradurga man named Renukaswamy, who had allegedly sent inappropriate messages to Darshan's long-time partner Pavithra Gowda. The actor, along with his accomplices, is accused of torturing and killing Renukaswamy on June 9 in a shed in Bengaluru used to store impounded vehicles and later dumping his body near a stormwater drain.

TNM has reported on Darshan’s fan base, influence and the crime he is accused of.