After a viral photo of smoking, Kannada actor Darshan now speaks to a Bengaluru jail on-call officer

Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa.

Photo: Times Now

Bengaluru: Hours later Kannada actor DarshanA picture has emerged showing him smoking and laughing inside Bengaluru JailA video has now surfaced in which he is allegedly talking to his close associate in prison. He was arrested by Mysore in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy in June and is currently in Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru.

In these pictures, the Kannada actor is seen holding a cup in one hand and a cigarette in the other. One of the men (in a black T-shirt) sitting next to him, Darshan is a history sheeter named Wilson Garden Naga. The pictures were reportedly taken by a prison inmate. These pictures raised security concerns in the prison. After the picture went viral, senior prison officials were reportedly summoned by the prison administration.

After the development was reported in the news, Additional IGP of Prisons Anand Reddy immediately initiated an inquiry into the matter and a preliminary investigation is underway.

In response, Darshan's father said that prison was a prison and his son should be treated like any other prisoner.

“The prison should be a prison and not become something else. He should be like a normal prisoner. When my friends showed me the picture of him sitting on chairs with four people, relaxing with tea and cigarette in his hand, he felt like he was in a guest house or resort,” said his father Kashinatha Shivanagowdara.

“When we met the Prime Minister, he assured that the police would be given a free hand and justice would be done,” he added.