Darshan Thoogudeepa smokes with rowdy inside Bengaluru jail; 7 officials suspended over VVIP treatment to actor

Viral pic of Darshan smoking with a rowdy in prison

Seven officials of the Bengaluru Central Prison were suspended on Monday after police investigation into a viral photo and a video of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa getting VVIP treatment inside jail revealed "serious security lapses".

A photo and a video showing Sandalwood actor Darshan getting special treatment in jail have surfaced recently.

Darshan, recently arrested for the murder of his fan Renukaswamy, is seen in a photo with notorious rowdy-sheeter Wilson Garden Naga and two others. In the image, Darshan and another individual hold a mug and a cigarette, both laughing as they appear to be looking at someone or something off-camera.

The a 25-second video clip, which surfaced after the viral photo, begins with a man in a yellow t-shirt smiling at another person on a video call. The second man then turns away, pointing the camera away from himself, and hands the phone to someone else. As the phone screen shifts, Darshan’s face appears.

BJP national speokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla reacted to the viral visuals and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi: "Is this the 'Khata Khat' nyay model of Karnataka Congress?"

VVIP Darshan to murder accused in Bengaluru Central JailKhata Khat Nyay Model of Karnataka Congress ? Murder accused filmstar Darshan photographed getting VIP treatment inside Bengaluru Central Prison with drink/beverage & cigarettes!! Chatting with history sheeters ! pic.twitter.com/FbCL8LesIX

Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) August 26, 2024

"Murder accused filmstar Darshan photographed getting VIP treatment inside Bengaluru Central Prison with drink/beverage & cigarettes!! Chatting with history sheeters !" he added.

Moneycontrol could not verify the authenticity of both the photo and the video. Jail authorities, however, according to reports, have promised a probe and neither confirmed nor denied the incidents.

Darshan and six others, including his girlfriend Pravitra Gowda and his manager Nagaraj, are among the 17 people arrested in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.