7 prison officials suspended for VIP treatment of actor Darshan in prison

Bengaluru: Seven officials of the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru were suspended after an investigation found that Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was allegedly given special treatment while in custody. The suspensions come in the wake of a photo and video circulating on the Internet that caused considerable public outrage.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar confirmed the suspensions and said, “The police have reached the spot and have started investigations. After preliminary investigation, they have found seven officials involved in the matter and they have been suspended. Now we are investigating the matter further. It is a serious security breach.”

The controversy started when a picture of Darshan, who is currently in custody in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, surfaced online. The photo shows the actor in a relaxed pose sitting on a chair, holding a cigarette and a coffee cup, surrounded by three other people. Reportedly, those present with Darshan include notorious criminal Wilson Garden Naga, his manager and co-accused Nagaraj, and another inmate, Kulla Seena. In addition, a video purportedly showing Darshan talking to someone through video call has been circulating online.

This incident has drawn widespread criticism, with many questioning the alleged preferential treatment given to Darshan. The actor, who is a prominent figure in Kannada cinema, is in judicial custody in connection with the brutal murder of Renukaswamy along with 16 others, including his friend Pavithra Gowda. The case has attracted considerable attention due to Darshan's celebrity status and the gruesome nature of the crime.

Renukaswamy, a 33-year-old Darshan fan, was reportedly lured to a hut in RR Nagar by Raghavendra, a member of a Darshan fan club, on the pretext of meeting the actor. There, the victim was allegedly tortured and killed. The motive behind the murder is said to be related to Renukaswamy's allegedly obscene messages to Ms. Gowda, which allegedly provoked Darshan. The victim's body was discovered near a stormwater drain adjacent to a flat on June 9. The post-mortem report confirmed that he died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple blunt injuries.

Kashinath S Shivanagowdru, the deceased's father, expressed shock and anger over the viral picture and demanded a thorough investigation. “Looking at the picture, I am surprised to see him (Darshan) with others, holding a cigarette and drinking tea. We doubt whether he is in jail or not. The jail should be a jail and not become something else. He should be treated like other normal prisoners, but here it looks like he is sitting in a resort,” he said. Kashinath has also hinted at the possibility of seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter.

The incident has once again put a spotlight on corruption and preferential treatment in the Indian prison system, particularly of high-profile inmates. As investigations continue, calls are growing for the officers involved in the alleged misconduct to be held accountable and suspended.

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