Senior officers to probe Darshan’s VIP treatment in jail

BENGALURU: After the leaked photo and video of actor Darshan, arrested in the Renukaswamy murder case, at the Parappana Agrahara central prison went viral, DGP-Prisons Malini Krishnamurthy has ordered a probe by IGP B V Anand Reddy and DIG Somashekar.

DGP Malini Krishnamurthy, who herself visited the central jail on Monday, said she has received a preliminary report and added that seven jail officials have been suspended. Further action will be taken against them after the inquiry is completed, she said.

DGP Malini Krishnamurthy visited the Parappana Agrahara central prison on Monday.

Home Minister G Parameshwara also held a meeting with DG&IGP Alok Mohan at his office and Vidhana Soudha and visited the central prison at Parappana Agrahara himself to get first-hand information. He also went around the barracks and conducted an inspection, accompanied by the DG&IGP.

A photograph of jailed actor Darshan enjoying coffee and cigarette went viral on social media.

Meanwhile, Jail Superintendent Sheshamurthy conducted checks of all the barracks, including Darshan’s, on Sunday night and has issued instructions to officials not to allow undertrials to roam around freely and to keep a watch on the kitchen and restrooms. He also checked the CCTV footage from the different blocks.

Actor Rachita Ram had visited Darshan in jail last Thursday.

Preliminary inquiries by the officers have revealed the that picture of Darshan and other history-sheeters seated on chairs with a coffee mug and cigarette in hand was taken last Thursday, the day when actress Rachita Ram met Darshan in jail.

After the photo of Darshan and the video of his call with a history-sheeter went viral, the actor’s fans seem to be celebrating, with a social media post claiming ‘A lion remains a lion wherever it is’ doing the rounds. An old audio clip of Darshan saying, “If you live, you should live peacefully” is also going viral. “Our boss is fine, nothing has happened to him”, said another post.