'Will not tolerate this nonsense': G Parmeshwara vows action over 'VVIP treatment' for inmates in Bengaluru jail

BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Sunday vowed strict action against jail officials accused of allowing “VVIP treatment” for inmates, including ISIS operatives and rapists at Bengaluru Central Jail.

He has called a meeting of senior police officers and sought a detailed report from Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) B. Dayananda on the allegations. “We have appointed B Dayananda as the head (of Prisons). He was on leave yesterday, but I have spoken to him. I have told him that this is happening repeatedly; whoever is responsible for this, immediate action needs to be taken against them, and a report should be submitted.

But I will not tolerate this nonsense. Enough is enough,” Parameshwara told reporters.

Dayananda was appointed ADGP (Prisons) on July 31 following the retirement of DGP (Prisons) Malini Krishnamoorthy. The officer, who earlier served as Bengaluru Police Commissioner, was suspended after the Bengaluru stampede during a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory event on June 4, in which 11 people were killed and over 50 injured.

While the timeline of the viral video remains unclear, Parameshwara acknowledged that similar incidents have occurred before. He said several jail officials across the state — including in Mangaluru, Belagavi, and Bengaluru — have been suspended for providing special privileges to inmates. “In the past too, when such incidents occurred in Mangalore, Belagavi, and other places, we suspended officers and took action against them.

Even earlier in Parappana Agrahara jail, we had suspended a few officers after finding out these things,” he said. “Such things shouldn't happen. Sometimes they say they are short on staff, but that's not an excuse. You should do your work properly. If you're using this as an excuse and giving mobile phones and TVs to them, then it can't be called a jail anymore. I will call a meeting of police officers and will discuss what the lapses are,” the minister added. Parameshwara said the state government has already approved the installation of more CCTV cameras and network jammers in prisons. If the report from ADGP Dayananda is found unsatisfactory, he said, another committee will be formed to take “immediate corrective measures.” “Whether a terrorist or anyone else, they should not have access to a phone or any of these facilities. There is no point in calling it a jail if you give them such facilities.

A few people are saying the video is old. Be it old or new, such things should never happen. I will try my best to take strict action against this,” he said. A purported viral video from Parappana Agrahara Jail — also known as Bengaluru Central Jail — allegedly showed inmates enjoying “VVIP treatment,” with access to mobile phones, televisions, and other unauthorised facilities. Among those reportedly seen in the video were death-row convict and serial killer Umesh Reddy, gold smuggler Tarun Raj, and an ISIS operative brought from Dubai by the National Security Agency (NSA).(With agency inputs)