Bengaluru: The much-touted report on alleged irregularities in the Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara has not moved beyond the desk of the Deputy Secretary, Home Department, though it was reportedly collected by the Department from its author – the retired IAS officer Vinay Kumar – on October 21.
The government had initially given Mr Kumar a month to submit the report, on August 17. The deadline was extended to August-end on his request. The retired IAS officer, meanwhile, suffered a heart attack, which had further delayed the process of submission. The report was ready, but was collected only in the third week of October.
Though the 300-page report is yet to be reviewed by the Home Department, sources on condition of anonymity said that Mr Kumar has reportedly highlighted some alleged “aberrations and irregularities” in the prison administration including some special privileges to the jailed former AIADMK leader Sasikala V.K. which were allegedly provided by the then superintendent and chief superintendent of the Bengaluru Central prison.
“The then prison administration had allegedly allowed Sasikala more number of ‘interviews’ in jail than an ordinary convict. The prison manual does not restrict the number of visitors to a convict. It is left to the discretion of the prison superintendent to either grant or deny permission to the visitors, who wish to meet a convict. They may have used the grey area to allow Sasikala more number of visitors inside the prison,” said an official source.
On her being given an alleged VIP treatment inside the prison, Mr Kumar had noticed that Sasikala was being provided accommodation in a row of five cells, which was more a security requirement than a privilege. An convection stove and some kitchenware allegedly indicated that she was given a private kitchen. “Sasikala is lodged in a cell in the women convicts’ enclosure. There are five cells in a row in the wing. The other four cells are empty and are temporarily being used by prison officials for administrative purpose. Sasikala is isolated from the other prisoners with barricades on either sides of the row of cells for her security and protection. The same arrangement is being continued even now,” he said. The report also allegedly highlights the prevalence of drugs in the prison among other irregularities and has suggested some corrective measures.
