Seven jail officials have been suspended after a photograph of actor Darshan smoking and holding a coffee mug inside the Parappana Agrahara central jail in Bengaluru went viral. The incident has sparked outrage and prompted an immediate investigation by the government.
The suspended officials include Jailors Sharanabasappa Amingad and Prabhu S. Khandelwal, Assistant Jailors L. S. Thippeswamy and Srikanth Talwar, Head Warders Venkatappa Korti and Sampathkumar Kadapatti, and Warder Basappa Teli. The viral photo raised serious concerns about how Darshan was allowed to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle while in custody.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who was briefed by City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda and ADGP (Law and Order) Hitendra, ordered a probe into the incident. ‘I was informed on Sunday afternoon and immediately instructed the DGP-Prisons to investigate. The inquiry led to the suspension of seven officials, and we are awaiting a detailed report. Further action will be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring,’ Parameshwara said.
IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge also addressed the issue, emphasizing that the government does not intend to offer special treatment to any undertrial. He noted that such incidents harm the government’s reputation and assured that the law will be applied equally to everyone involved. The investigation is ongoing, and the government has vowed to take stringent action based on the findings.
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New charges loom over Darshan after jail controversy
Actor Darshan, already embroiled in controversy, may face additional charges following a viral photo of him smoking a cigarette and holding a coffee mug with notorious criminal Wilson Garden Naga and two others inside Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. A video call with history-sheeters Dharma and Satya has also surfaced, prompting authorities to consider further legal action.
Police are contemplating filing a new complaint at Parappana Agrahara police station. Senior officers are awaiting further instructions. Already, seven jail officials have been suspended for negligence in this matter.
The possible complaint may target Wilson Garden Naga, Kulla Seena, Darshan’s manager Nagaraj, Market Dharmaraj, and Satya. If filed, Darshan could face serious charges, potentially leading to his transfer to another prison.
Meanwhile, concerns have arisen over a Central Crime Branch (CCB) raid at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail conducted early on Saturday. It is suspected that information about the raid was leaked beforehand, as the CCB officers found nothing despite the known presence of mobile phones among inmates. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of the raid and what, if anything, the CCB police uncovered inside the prison.
