Bengaluru jail luxury rate card

In the wake of the viral pictures of Kannada actor Darshan sipping coffee, smoking a cigarette and making video calls from Parapana Agrahara, Bengaluru's central prison, the FPJ can reveal that the state "guests" in prison can get anything they want, if they are willing to pay for the services.

- Rajashekhara S

A shortage of staff and corrupt officials have given longterm convicts to run the show in the central prison, an official told FPJ. While the sanctioned strength of staff is 3,583, the current strength is 2,848, which means that 735 posts lie vacant, allowing the inmates to make hay while the vacancies persist.

In 2017, then Deputy Inspector General of Police (Prisons) D Roopa had compiled a very damaging report on the corruption and mismanagement at the central prison, a report which was termed "baseless' and she was shunted out for her revelations. In that report there was talk of Rs 2 crore being paid as bribe by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha's friend Sasikala who had been extended VVIP treatment in prison; the jail authorities had cleared a corridor for Sasikala to take a stroll; allowed her to wear her own clothes whereas the other convicts had to wear prison uniform; she had her own make up, had an assistant to help her; a cell was commandeered citing security reasons and converted into a kitchen for her. Sasikala had access to a phone, fan, television, fresh groceries, and vegetables.