Karnataka govt suspends prison officials after probe into viral videos of Bengaluru jail prisoners getting 'VVIP treatment'

Screengrabs of purported videos from Bengaluru Central Jail viral on social media

The Karnataka government has suspension two officials and has shifted one from the prison department following furore over prisoners in Bengaluru central jail having access to mobile and television, and partying and dancing with liquor, snacks and music. The government has also ordered monitoring of all jails in Bengalauru and that CCTV footage of the jails will be examined. A command centre will be made to monitor jails in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said that Jail Superintendent Magery and ASP Ashok Bhajantri have been dismissed following an inquiry into reports of inmates receiving "VVIP treatment" at Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.

Parameshwara said that some videos and photos circulating online were old, but confirmed lapses in prison management.

He added that Chief Superintendent of Prison K Suresh has been transferred, and an IPS officer will now head the jail.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, G Parameshwara said, "The media had reported that an unlawful incident had occurred. A meeting was held to verify the truth of the matter. An investigation has been conducted regarding the media reports. Some videos have been circulating; however, they are from 2023, not from yesterday or the day before. Some photos, only one or two, are from three to four months ago. The responsibility lies with three people. Chief Superintendent of Prison K Suresh. He has been immediately transferred. An IPS officer has been appointed in his place for the first time. From now on, Parappana Agrahara Prison will be managed by an IPS officer."

A high-power committee has also been formed to review prison operations and submit a detailed report.

"Formation of a new committee, a High-Power Committee. They will review all matters happening in the prisons and submit a comprehensive report. We will provide them with the terms of reference. Jail Superintendent Magery has been dismissed. ASP Ashok Bhajantri has also been dismissed," he said.

This comes after Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail made headlines with yet another purported video from inside the high-security facility surfacing online. The latest clip, which has gone viral, shows inmates dancing and appearing to enjoy what looks like a party behind bars -- complete with liquor, snacks, and music. In the visuals, glasses filled with alcohol are placed neatly beside plates of cut fruits and fried peanuts, while four miniature bottles of liquor sit arranged in a row. Some prisoners can be seen dancing to the sound of clanging utensils, giving the impression of a celebratory gathering. The authenticity of the footage, however, has not been independently verified.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)staged a protest and gherao the Chief Minister Sidaaramaiah's official residence in Bengaluru over viral videos of Central Jail purportedly showing VVIP treatment to inmates.

The video has reignited concerns about severe lapses in jail security and the alleged VIP treatment being extended to certain inmates. It follows a recent uproar over earlier clips showing high-risk prisoners using mobile phones and watching television inside the same jail. Among those seen in previous videos were convicted serial rapist and killer Umesh Reddy and alleged ISIS recruiter Juhad Hameed Shakeel Manna. In the purported video, Reddy was seen casually watching TV, while Manna was believed to be communicating with contacts outside the prison walls.

Parameshwara chaired a keey meet with prison officials following the videos going viral. Earlier, responding sharply, he said he had taken serious note of the incidents and demanded a detailed report from Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) B Dayananda. “I have asked him (ADGP Dayananda) to give me a report. If the report is not satisfactory, I will set up a separate committee and take corrective measures. I will not tolerate this nonsense. Enough is enough, because these things should not happen again,” Parameshwara said.

Dismissing excuses about staff shortages, the minister added, “They (prison officials) often say there is a shortage of staff, but the existing staff should at least perform their duties well. That is not an excuse. If they provide television, mobile phones and other things on the pretext of a lack of staff, then why should it be called a jail?” He also noted that the government had already cleared the installation of CCTV cameras and signal jammers in all prisons. “Not just terrorists, phones or any other facilities should not be in anyone’s hand inside the jail. No one will call it a jail then,” he remarked.

Prison authorities have begun an internal inquiry to confirm the authenticity of the videos and to identify those responsible for the lapses. “Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation,” officials told PTI.

This is not the first time Parappana Agrahara has faced allegations of irregularities. In October, a video of notorious rowdy-sheeter Srinivas, also known as Gubbachi Seena, celebrating his birthday in jail went viral, showing him cutting a cake and wearing an apple garland surrounded by other inmates. Last year, a photo of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, sitting comfortably with a cigarette and coffee mug inside the same prison, had drawn sharp criticism.

The repeated breaches and visuals emerging from inside Parappana Agrahara have once again raised serious questions about oversight, accountability, and discipline within Karnataka’s prison administration.

With ANI inputs