Karnataka Prisons Department struggles to find ‘suitable cell’ for Prajwal Revanna

Prajwal Revanna, convicted former MP, has put the Karnataka’s Department of Prisons and Correctional Services in a fix, with officials struggling to identify a “suitable cell” to shift him from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru following a recommendation by the city police to do so.

The Department has agreed in principle to the police’s recommendation to transfer Prajwal and 11 other prisoners after they were caught using mobile phones inside the prison. The police have recommended that they be shifted to separate facilities, citing concerns that they could influence witnesses or hamper the investigation.

The Parappana Agrahara police had also taken Prajwal into custody for questioning about the source of the phones. Prison officials allegedly involved in the episode have been suspended.

However, the Prisons Department has since been struggling to identify a suitable facility to accommodate Prajwal while ensuring adequate security.

The irony is that Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, one of the largest prisons in the State and equipped with extensive security infrastructure, has apparently failed to prevent the alleged unauthorised use of phones by inmates. The latest episode has also raised questions about prison surveillance and the ability of influential prisoners to maintain networks from behind bars.

The department had initially considered shifting Prajwal to Hindalga Prison in Belagavi but dropped the plan after prison authorities expressed concerns over security arrangements.

Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Alok Kumar said the proposed transfer was being reconsidered in consultation with the authorities concerned.

The Department is now exploring alternatives to ensure that the transfer, if carried out, does not compromise security or the ongoing investigation.