Ex-MP Prajwal Revanna, In Jail For Rape, Found With Phone Inside Bengaluru Prison

An Android smartphone was taken from the cell of ex-Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna during a search conducted on Tuesday. Revanna is currently serving a life sentence for a rape conviction, and the seizure took place at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. The investigation was carried out by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) under the Karnataka Prisons (Amendment) Act, 2022, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

A complaint filed by Police Inspector M L Subramanya Swamy alleged that narcotics, prohibited items, and a violation of prison rules were discovered. The search took place in Security Sections 1 to 3 between 2 pm and 9 pm. Officials found a light-blue Redmi 5G mobile phone, a charger, a notebook, and a pen drive in Room No 4 of Security Section 3, occupied by Revanna and Pratap Rai, an undertrial prisoner.

Revanna and Rai claimed the items belonged to them, with Revanna using Rai's phone to contact relatives and his lawyer. The mobile phone, among other items, was found to have unauthorized applications installed, password-protected. Both prisoners admitted they were unaware of the passwords. As a result, the phone, charger, pen drive, and notebook were seized.

Prison officials, including Assistant Superintendent Iranna Rangapur, faced disciplinary actions due to the unauthorized entry of prohibited items. Reacting to the incident, Home Minister Priyank Kharge announced further prison inspections across Karnataka, emphasizing zero tolerance for corruption and VIP treatment to inmates.