32 SHIFTED OUT OF BENGALURU PRISON FOR ‘LEAKING INFO’

BENGALURU: Amid the controversy over alleged bribery by AIADMK leader VK Sasikala for privileged treatment in Bengaluru central prison, the facility remained volatile after 32 prisoners were shifted out because they allegedly complained to Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Roopa D Moudgil on Saturday.

Sources said, 21 convicts were shifted to Ballari and the rest to Belagavi on Saturday night, because they had raised issues over the functioning of the jail.

Moudgil had on Wednesday written a letter to the Director General (prisons) HN Sathyanarayana Rao saying she had heard accusations that a bribe of ₹2 crore had been paid to give Sasikala privileged treatment, such as a separate kitchen, apart from other violations.

This had led to a furore, with Rao accusing Moudgil of making baseless and wild allegations.

A probe has been ordered into the matter by chief minister Siddaramaiah. However, the issue continues to simmer.

During Saturday’s visit by Moudgil, around 800 of the 4,000 inmates of the prison aired their grievances. Some complained that they had to pay a bribe to get into good barracks and also that they were assaulted by staff and other prisoners, sources said.

However, this meeting resulted in a factional feud between those airing grievances and a tiny faction that spoke in support of the jail authorities.

In a second report that she filed into the matter on Saturday, Moudgil said some of the CCTV footage was missing. However, none of the top prison officials were willing to comment, in light of the chief minister invoking service rules that forbid them disclosing official secrets.

On Sunday, Siddaramaiah once again reiterated that he will not tolerate any official speaking to the media without informing seniors. “If there is evidence, let them give it to the committee,” Siddaramaiah said. “If the charges are found to be true, we will not spare those found guilty of wrongdoing,” he added.