Prison psychiatrist sold phones to inmates

In a shocking revelation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a psychiatrist working at Bengaluru Central Prison for allegedly supplying mobile phones to inmates, including a terror convict linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba. Dr. S Nagaraj was arrested on July 8 for his alleged involvement in facilitating illegal communication within the high-security prison.

According to the NIA, Nagaraj procured mobile phones from a local store for ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 and sold them to inmates at inflated prices of around ₹25,000. These devices were reportedly smuggled into the prison and handed over to high-profile inmates, including Thadiyantavide Naseer, a 47-year-old convict in a Kerala terrorism case. Naseer is currently on trial for his role in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts and a separate prison radicalisation case. The Investigation suggests that the psychiatrist’s actions may have enabled Naseer to continue spreading extremist ideologies from within prison walls. The NIA is probing whether more staff members were involved in the illegal supply network.

This incident raises serious concerns about internal security lapses in one of the state’s most secure prisons. Officials believe the smuggled phones may have been used for planning or coordinating radical activities, prompting a broader inquiry into prison protocols and staff vetting procedures. Authorities are now tightening surveillance and examining potential breaches in other facilities as well. The case has once again spotlighted the challenges of curbing radicalisation and maintaining strict controls inside correctional institutions.