Probe looks at possible staff help for Prajwal Revanna to hide phone in jail

Authorities are investigating the possibility that prison staff may have aided Mohammed Prajwal Revanna in hiding a mobile phone inside Bengaluru Central Prison, according to sources. The probe comes after the former Hassan MP and convicted sexual offender was discovered with a phone in his barrack on Tuesday. The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Alok Kumar, described the incident as "very unfortunate" and "serious."

Initial searches of Revanna's barrack on August 6 did not uncover any prohibited items, but a mobile phone was seized during a later raid by the Central Crime Branch (CCB). Kumar stated that prison authorities are examining whether some prison personnel might have been tipping off inmates about searches. He noted that previous instances have seen CCB searches not resulting in seizures, while prison department inspections led to the discovery of mobile phones, and vice versa.

Kumar emphasized that they cannot rule out the possibility that some prison staff may be alerting inmates about raids. Those responsible will be questioned, and the issues will be addressed. The prison department is conducting a thorough investigation into how the phone remained undetected during earlier searches. Despite installing high-tech signal jammers, mobile signals are still detectable in certain areas of the prison, and telecom authorities have been approached to address these "blind spots."

Additionally, the prison department has sought details from telecom operator Airtel to verify SIM card information linked to devices found in prisons. Revanna was not wearing the prison uniform during the CCB raid, and a memo directing inmates to follow the uniform rules had been issued three months prior. Following the phone seizure, an assistant superintendent of prisons has been suspended pending an inquiry, and the superintendent has received a showcause notice.

Prison authorities have also expanded searches across the facility, including the barrack of actor Darshan and other high-profile inmates, but no prohibited items were found. The department is reviewing security mechanisms, including surveillance systems and mobile-phone jammers, and is investigating the possibility that prison personnel may have facilitated the entry or use of unauthorized electronic devices.

Since the beginning of this year, nearly 300 mobile phones have been seized from prisons across Karnataka, with officials suspecting that some unauthorized devices may still be in use on prison premises.