7 officials suspended for granting special privileges to jailed actor Darshan

The photo shows actor Darshan (right) sitting on a lawn with a rowdy bedsheet carrier, allegedly smoking a cigarette in prison. | Photo credit: Special agreement

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara has announced the suspension of seven prison officials following allegations that actor Darshan was given special treatment in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru.

In a photo that went viral on August 25, the actor is seen sitting on a lawn with a coffee cup in his hand and chatting with two rowdies. Another video of a video call that the actor allegedly made from jail had also gone viral, prompting the Prisons and Corrections Department to launch an investigation.

Darshan and 16 of his companions were imprisoned for the murder of Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga.

On August 26, Dr Parameshwara told media persons that he had ordered an inquiry as soon as the photo was circulated online. “Senior officials went to the jail at night on Sunday, August 25, and conducted an inquiry till 1 am. The inquiry revealed that jail officials were giving some special perks to actor Darshan. Those officials who were found to be in the wrong have been suspended,” he said.

Jail Wardens Sharana Basava and Prabhu S. Khandelwal, Assistant Jail Wardens LS Thippeswamy and Srikanth Talwar, Senior Wardens Venkappa Kodti and Sampath Kumar Kadapatti and Prison Superintendent Basappa Keli were suspended.

“I have asked for a detailed report. The seven suspended officers have been found complicit. Senior prison officials will be transferred. Further action will be taken once I receive the report,” said Dr Parameshwara.

Director General of Police (Prisons and Correctional Institutions) Malini Krishnamurthy visited the prison on the morning of August 26.