Videos show Kalaburagi jail inmates partying inside cell, in possession of mobile phones

KALABURAGI: After Kalaburagi central jail chief superintendent R Anitha cracked down on nefarious activities inside the jail by the inmates ever since she took charge in October, several videos have now been leaked showing the prisoners in possession of smartphones and feature phones and also consuming alcohol and cigarettes within the cells.

Several jail inmates, including Zulfikar Bachchan, had been transferred to other jails in order to break the nexus after it was found that many of them had been living a luxurious life inside the jail. The timing of the release of the videos has given rise to suspicion that it may be targeted at the jail chief superintendent herself.

In one of the videos, the camera points to the dateline of a newspaper dated October 14, 2024, the day, R Anitha took charge of the Kalaburagi jail. The video then shows some jail inmates sitting inside a cell with cellphones before them.

Another video points to the October 22, 2024 dateline of a newspaper and then shows a heap of beedi, cigarette and gutka packets.

Other videos show a bunch of mobile phones and chargers and cables, inmates talking on the phones, and some others enjoying alcohol inside a cell.

Reacting to the development in Bengaluru, Home Minister G Parameshwara said, “I will speak to the DG-Prisons and if the allegations that prison officials may also be involved are true, then action will be taken against them. I will look into this and initiate whatever action needs to be taken.

Kalaburagi central jail chief superintendent Anitha said, “I took charge on October 14 following which senior officers visited the jail over the next 2-3 days. I have seen the video showing the newspaper dateline, which seems like it is being done to target me. This shows that there is some conspiracy against me. But I will not be cowed down and will continue to discharge my duties. I have lodged a complaint regarding the illegal transfer of money to my bank account and I am sure the investigation will bring out the truth”.