A mobile phone was allegedly found in the possession of former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence for rape at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru.

The phone was found during a surprise inspection conducted by Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials in the prison complex on Tuesday afternoon, sources said.

According to sources, the mobile phone was found in the barrack where Prajwal is lodged. The discovery has raised questions about how a prohibited electronic device reached the possession of a high-profile convict inside the high-security prison.

The incident has brought renewed scrutiny on security and surveillance measures inside the Central prison. Allegations of VIP treatment and special facilities being extended to influential inmates at Parappana Agrahara prison have surfaced in the past.

Prajwal, who represented the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, was convicted in a sexual assault case and sentenced to life imprisonment by a court.

Director General of Prisons Alok Kumar said that one Android phone was seized from Prajwal’s barrack, and Assistant Superintendent Iranna Rangapur has been suspended for dereliction of duty, while a show-cause notice has been issued to the Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Central Prison.

Sources said prison authorities had searched Prajwal’s barrack on August 6, but the search team could not find any contraband item then. The phone was found on August 11 during the CCB’s five-hour search covering various high-profile prisoners.

Also Read : Rape and punishment: On the life sentencing of Prajwal Revanna

CCB has lodged a complaint at the Parappana Agrahara Police Station, and an FIR has been registered under Section 42 of the Karnataka Prisons (Amendment) Act, 2022, and Section 323 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), naming Prajwal Revanna and an undertrial prisoner Prathap Rai, arrested in a POCSO case, as accused.

According to the complaint filed by M.L. Subramanya Swamy, Police Inspector, Narcotics Control Bureau, CCB, during the search officials found a mobile phone, a charger, a blue pocket (electronic) notebook, and a pen drive.

When the prisoners in the room were questioned about the phone, former MP Prajwal Revanna reportedly claimed the notebook belonged to him, while Prathap Rai, an undertrial prisoner, claimed ownership of the mobile phone, charger and pen drive.

Prathap Rai allegedly told the officials that he used the mobile phone occasionally to contact his relatives and lawyer. Prajwal reportedly said he had borrowed the phone from Prathap Rai and used it to contact his relatives and lawyer.

The mobile phone was found to have Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Netflix, Prime Video, and other applications. The applications were password-protected. Both prisoners reportedly told officials that they did not know the passwords.

The seized articles were confiscated in the presence of witnesses.