Photo of murder accused actor Darshan in jail with cigarette and coffee goes viral

BENGALURU: A photograph of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa holding a cigarette and chatting with other inmates at Bengaluru Central Jail's Parappana Agrahara has raised questions about whether the prison staff are giving preferential treatment to the actor.

But that's not all: a video call made by the actor to another person, whose identity is unknown, has also gone viral on social media. The actor can be seen in it with his head torsoed, confirming that it is a new video.

Darshan, who was arrested in connection with the alleged brutal murder of Renukaswamy, is in custody.

The photo shows Kannada actor Darshan holding a coffee cup and smoking a cigarette. He is lodged in Parappana Agrahara jail along with rowdy Wilson Garden Naga, Darshan's manager Nagaraj (accused in a murder case) and Kulla Seena. It is said that a jail inmate shared this photo with his wife, which has now been widely circulated on the internet.

A senior department official confirmed that it is a photograph taken inside the Central Jail of Darshan with another accused. He said that while there is no rule allowing giving cigarettes to inmates, this incident raises questions as to how Darshan got the cigarette without the assistance of the prison staff, believing in possible preferential treatment.

On Saturday (24 August 2024), the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police conducted a raid on the prison.

When TNIE tried to contact Malini Krishnamoorthy, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, she was unavailable for comment.

Speaking to reporters, Renukaswamy's father demanded an investigation into the incident and punishment of those responsible. “I doubt whether he is in jail or not. He should be treated like any other normal prisoner, but here it looks like he is in a convalescent home,” he said.

Ravikumar, a BJP MP, asked Home Minister G. Parmeshwara and urged him to clarify whether Parappana Agrahara was a prison or a palace where an alleged murder accused was enjoying luxury treatment of cigarettes and chilling with another accused.

It may be recalled that in 2017, IPS officer Roopa D Moudgil had exposed the alleged special privileges granted to VK Shashikala, a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in Bengaluru Central Jail. She felt vindicated when the report of an independent inquiry committee confirmed her allegations.