Govt employee arrested for attempt to smuggle ganja inside Shivamogga prison

The Karnataka State Industrial Security Force personnel, posted at the Central Prison located at Sogane near Shivamogga, caught a prison staff member allegedly attempting to carry ganja (marijuana), and foiled another attempt to supply ganja by hiding it in the stem of banana bunches.

Shivamogga Police have booked two separate cases, based on complaints filed by P. Ranganath, Chief Superintendent of the prison.

The security staff caught Sathvik, 25, on November 20 while he was trying to carry ganja covered in gum tape. He had kept the banned item in his innerwear. The security staff caught him during the routine check in the morning. KSISF Inspector Jagadish and PSI Prabhu S. detected the contraband. The accused was allegedly carrying ganja for prisoners. Tunga Nagar Police booked a case under the NDPS Act, 1985, and arrested the accused and seized 170 grams of ganja from him.

This is the second time a government employee has been caught engaged in an illegal act in the Central prison within two months.

In October, Head Constable Shivamurthy Kankanadi was suspended for supplying cell phones to prisoners, Mr P. Ranganath told The Hindu.

The KSISF staff check every member entering the prison building. Including the Chief Superintendent of Prison. “There are over 100 personnel, including clerical staff and policemen. Everyone undergoes checking,” the officer said.

The Central prison built with a capacity for 500 persons, has 786 inmates.

Earlier, on November 19, the KSISF staff found 123 gram of ganja and 40 cigarettes stuffed in banana bunches meant to be supplied to prison inmates.

An autorickshaw driver, who transported five bunches of bananas in his vehicle, unloaded the fruit at the prison entrance and left the place, informing the security staff that he had supplied them on instructions from the prison canteen. The staff found ganja and cigarettes while scanning the bunches. The banned items were kept in the stems of the bunches. The police seized 123 grams of ganja and 40 cigarettes.

The police are examining CCTV camera footage to identify the people who supplied the banana bunches.