Bengaluru: Videos and photos showing crime convicts Umesh Reddy, involved in a murder case, and Taran Raj, a key accused in a gold smuggling case, using mobile phones inside their cells at Parappana Agrahara Jail have gone viral on social media, sparking widespread public debate.
Following the media dissemination of these visuals, B. Dayanand, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) overseeing prisons and correctional services, has directed jail authorities to conduct a thorough inspection of the inmates’ barracks.
Speaking to the media, retired police officer S.K. Umesh expressed serious concerns, stating that VIP privileges and use of mobile phones by inmates at Parappana Agrahara Jail pose a significant threat to national security. He highlighted that the videos showing Umesh Reddy and Taran Raj using mobile phones and watching TV in their cells should be taken seriously by the government and concerned departments.
Such illegal activities are known to have occurred previously in prisons. However, the continued use of mobile phones and other VIP facilities inside the jail raises security vulnerabilities for the country. S.K. Umesh lamented that no effective measures have so far been implemented to address this issue.
Information will be gathered before commenting: CM Siddaramaiah
Responding to the reports about special treatment for inmates, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking in Bengaluru, said, “I am not fully aware of the matter. I will collect information from the concerned officials and then speak on this issue.”
“Home Department Has Failed” – R. Ashok, Opposition Leader
“Parappana Agrahara Jail has once again proven to be a paradise for criminals. Videos showing Umesh Reddy and Lashkar militants using mobile phones have come to light. The Home Department in the state has failed miserably. Karnataka has become a haven for terrorists,” said R. Ashok, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.
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