Bengaluru, Aug 13 (IANS) The Karnataka Police Department has formed a special team headed by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged finding of a mobile phone in the prison cell of former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case.

Director General of Police (Prisons), Alok Kumar, confirmed the formation of the special team, which will be led by DIG Prisons and Reforms Jinendra Khanagavi.

The team has been tasked with investigating how the mobile phone reached the cell of Prajwal Revanna, who is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

The team will also probe who allegedly handed the phone over to him and how long he had access to the device.

The development comes a day after Prajwal Revanna, who is the son of former JD(S) minister H.D Revanna, was shifted from a VIP cell to a normal cell housing other convicted prisoners at the Bengaluru Central Prison following the reported recovery of a mobile phone from his cell.

The matter took a fresh turn 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 to the footage.

In the purported video, Prajwal is seen wearing coloured clothes instead of the mandatory prison uniform and speaking on a mobile phone while inside a cell fitted with a ceiling fan. He is also heard referring to having made a call two days earlier.

The video has raised questions about how a mobile phone allegedly reached his cell and how calls could be made from inside the prison despite security measures, including mobile phone jammers.

According to police, the special team will also investigate how mobile phones are reaching prisoners’ cells despite the security arrangements in place at the prison. The presence of SIM cards reportedly originating from Andhra Pradesh inside the prison will also be examined as part of the probe.

DIG Jinendra Khanagavi has met DGP Prisons Alok Kumar and held discussions regarding the investigation.

The team will also look into the possibility of collusion or negligence by prison officials and determine whether any jail personnel facilitated the alleged possession or use of the mobile phone.

“Amid tight security, how are mobile phones reaching the cells of prisoners? Whether there is any collusion by jail authorities will also be probed,” Alok Kumar said.

The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances under which the mobile phone allegedly entered the prison, the duration of its use and whether any prison officials were involved in facilitating its access.

It can be recalled that 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.

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 had 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.

–IANS

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