K’taka video case: Prajwal Revanna shifted to normal cell after phone recovery

Bengaluru, Aug 12 (IANS) Former MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case, was shifted from the VIP cell to a normal cell housing other convicted prisoners at the Bengaluru Central Prison on Wednesday after a mobile phone was reportedly found in his cell.

The development took a fresh turn on Wednesday evening after a purported 17‑second video showing Prajwal allegedly speaking on a mobile phone from inside his prison cell surfaced on social media and went viral. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified, and prison authorities have not yet issued an official reaction.

In the purported video, Prajwal is seen wearing coloured clothes instead of the mandatory prison uniform and speaking on a mobile phone while being in a cell fitted with a ceiling fan. He is heard referring to having made a call two days earlier. The video has raised further questions over the circumstances in which the mobile phone was allegedly being used inside the prison.

Following the recovery of the mobile phone, Prajwal has reportedly been moved to a cell with around 20 other prisoners, who share a single toilet. He has also been instructed to wear the mandatory prison uniform and carry out duties in the prison library.

The development has assumed a political dimension, coming a day before the Monsoon Assembly Session. The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD‑S) have announced that they would not allow the Assembly proceedings to function unless Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra resigns.

It may be recalled that the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police recently conducted a raid at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, during which a mobile phone and a pen drive were reportedly recovered from Prajwal’s cell. A blue Redmi 5G mobile phone, a charger, a blue pocket notebook and a black SanDisk pen drive were among the items reportedly recovered. According to the report, obscene videos were found on the mobile phone and pen drive.

Prajwal was subsequently shifted from the VIP section to a cell for ordinary convicted prisoners. He and another undertrial prisoner, Prathap Rai, had been housed in the VIP cell. Rai, who was arrested in a POCSO case, was reportedly assisting Prajwal.

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday said he had personally ordered the CCB raid on Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, during which more than 10 mobile phones were recovered, including one allegedly found in the barrack of former MP Prajwal Revanna.

Police said several OTT applications were found on the mobile phone recovered from Prajwal’s barrack.

Reacting to the recovery, Kharge said a raid of this nature required the approval of the Home Department and the Chief Minister. “I got the CCB raid conducted. A raid requires the permission of the Home Department. I had visited Parappana Agrahara two weeks ago and noticed certain lapses. Therefore, after obtaining the Chief Minister’s approval, I ordered the raid,” he said.

He added that the action was initiated based on information provided by officials and that he had directed authorities to suspend officials who were found to have facilitated irregularities inside the prison.

Prison Department DGP Alok Kumar said Assistant Superintendent Eeranna had been suspended in connection with the lapses. At the same time, a show‑cause notice had been issued to Jail Superintendent Anshukumar seeking an explanation.

Kumar said a mobile phone and charger were recovered from Prajwal’s barrack and that several OTT applications were found on the device. He said officials would also examine whether the prison’s Wi‑Fi network had been used.

–IANS

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