Psychiatric counsellor caught smuggling mobile phone for undertrial in central prison

Security personnel at the central prison caught a 33-year-old psychiatric counsellor, allegedly trying to smuggle a mobile phone inside the prison for an undertrial on Friday.

The accused was identified as Navyashri K.M., a resident of KR Pet, working on contract at the prison hospital’s psychiatric wing. She was caught by head constable Smitha while being frisked. The metal detector began to beep, after which she was subjected to physical frisking when the police allegedly recovered the mobile phone.

The accused was handed over to the commandant of Karnataka Industrial Security Force, who handed her to the jurisdictional Parappana Agarahara police along with the seized phone for further investigation.

Based on a complaint filed by Karna B. Kshetri, Superintendent of Prison, the police have registered a case against Navyashri charging her under the Karnataka Prisons Act and also under Section 323 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property) for further investigation.

Upon questioning, Navyashri allegedly confessed to the crime and told the police that she was carrying the mobile phone to hand it over to an undertrial on the request of her male colleague, identified as Shrujan.

Further inquiry revealed that Shrujan had allegedly taken money from the undertrial to get the phone inside the prison. Thinking that female staff are less likely to be frisked, he allegedly convinced Navyashri to take up the task. The police are now trying to get the details of the undertrial who assigned the job to him.

Published - June 14, 2025 11:59 pm IST