Jail staff told to compulsorily wear bodycams, store data

BENGALURU: After actor Darshan was lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, everything is under the surveillance of cameras. The jail staff and authorities also have been directed to follow rules strictly.

As per directives, all personnel, including superiors, are now required to wear body-worn cameras to ensure strict surveillance during visits and maintain a 30-day video backup, which will be saved on a hard disk later on.

Visitors meeting Darshan will be recorded on CCTV cameras and the videos will also be saved on a hard disk. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of Prisons B Dayananda has issued strict instructions to this effect.

Inside the jail, Darshan is under constant camera surveillance. Every activity of his is being recorded, and the staff members deployed near his cell are also recording videos. Those visiting Darshan will have to wait for hours, and everyone, regardless of their status, will have to follow the normal procedure of waiting in line and obtaining permission to meet him.

Currently, Darshan is being kept in a quarantine cell, and a decision on shifting him to another cell will be taken after considering the court’s verdict on Saturday. Depending on the court’s order, Darshan might be shifted to Ballari jail or kept in the undertrial prisoners’ cell at Parappana Agrahara.