The Karnataka government on August 26 suspended nine prison officials after photographs of jailed actor Darshan smoking and chilling out with notorious rowdies inside Bangalore Central Prison, and a clip showing him making a video call from inside the high-security prison to Sathya J., the son of a former rowdy sheeter, came to light. State home minister G. Parameshwara said, the prisoners seen in the pictures and the video grab would be relocated to other prisons in the state.
Officials in the Central Jail filed three police complaints over the alleged privileges extended to actor Darshan and rowdies in prison. The FIRs were registered at Parappana Agrahara police station in Bangalore on the evening of August 26.
A photograph showing Darshan sitting on the prison lawns and smoking with some rowdy elements and a co-accused with him (Darshan) in the murder case for which he is in jail, had surfaced online on August 25. Hours later, a 25-second video clip, showing the actor and a fellow-prisoner making a video call, appeared.
Parameshwara announced the suspension of seven prison officials who, he said, were directly involved in granting undue privileges to Darshan and the other inmates. On August 26, after emerging from jail following an inspection, Parameshwara said that the chief superintendent and assistant superintendent of the prison had also been suspended. Admitting a “serious lapse”, the minister said that senior IPS officers will investigate the irregularity and any others found guilty would likewise be suspended.