The Karnataka government has suspended seven prison officers, including the jailer of central prison in Bengaluru and a high-level inquiry has been initiated after a picture went viral where murder accused and actor Darshan was seen smoking a cigarette in the lawn. He was seen hanging out with other prisoners in the jail.
Pictures showed Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, the main accused in a murder case, receiving special treatment in prison.
Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara called it a lapse and ordered an immediate probe into the matter.
The viral picture reportedly surfaced after a jail staffer clicked to share them with his wife and she later posted them on social media. In the videos and pictures that have been doing rounds of social media since Sunday evening, Darshan, lodged in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Jail, appears to be enjoying several facilities. In one picture, the actor is seen relaxing outdoors with other inmates, sipping coffee and smoking a cigarette. In another widely-shared video, Darshan is seen taking part in a video call with an aide, smiling and waving at the camera.
“I got the news on the developments in Parappana Agrahara. Darshan along with 3-4 others, was relaxing, drinking tea…the photos of this have become viral. I have spoken to the director general (prisons) and sent officials to the place for further investigation,” G. Parameshwara, Karnataka’s minister for home affairs, said.
He said that jailors Sharana Basappa Amingad and Prabhu S. Khandelwal, and five subordinates—Thippeswamy L.S., Srikant Talwar, Venkappa Korthi, Sampath Kumar Kadapati, and Basappa Teli—had been suspended.
Parameshwara said the government will take further action after the inquiry report. Meanwhile, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah directed officials to shift the accused in the case to different jails across the state.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken the case of actor Darshan and others being given preferential treatment inside Parappana Agrahara Jail seriously and has directed that officials involved be suspended immediately. Darshan and others should be shifted to different jails. The CM has directed the DGP to visit the prison and submit a report on the incident,” the official account of CM Siddaramaiah said in a post on ‘X’.
Darshan, his rumoured partner Pavithra Gowda, and several other associates have been in jail for the last two months in the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy. They allegedly killed the pharmacy employee for sending “lewd messages” to Gowda on social media platform Instagram.
Shiva Gouda, Renukaswamy’s father, told reporters it did not look like Darshan had any “remorse” over the crime he had committed.
“I have faith in the police and justice system. But I am surprised at how this was allowed. This is very shocking news to us. I plead that the government investigate this and give appropriate directions,” he said.
