Darshan not allowed to step out of cell, other criminal elements shifted to different blocks

BENGALURU: Actor Darshan is struggling to cope with the harsh realities of prison life at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. The room where Darshan is staying is a little spacious, but his movements are restricted to the room where he paces back and forth and sleeps on a thin matress.

The prison staff has been assigned to maintain ecurity, and senior officials are monitoring the situation through body-worn cameras. In a video, Darshan is seen pacing in his room and sleeping on a thin matress.

Unlike earlier, when he would use two matresses to sleep, this time the prison staff has restricted such privileges after a Supreme Court order. Darshan’s life in prison is starkly different from what it was and he is now subject to the same rules as other inmates.

The prison staff have also set up barricades outside Darshan’s room to prevent other inmates from approaching him. The reality of prison life is far from the glamour of his acting career.

Meanwhile, Darshan’s transfer to Parappana Agrahara prison has caused trouble for notorious, undertrial prisoners. The prisoners who were in the same barrack as Darshan have been shifted to other barracks due to his notorious background.

Darshan is currently lodged in Cell No. 1 of the new women’s central prison, which has a capacity of 500 inmates. The barrack was initially meant for quarantine purposes during Covid-19 and has not yet been officially inaugurated.

The prison authorities have been strict in enforcing rules and regulations following a Supreme Court order and criticism of the VIP treatment given to Darshan during his earlier imprisonment. Other inmates have expressed dissatisfaction with the strict rules, saying that they are facing problems because of Darshan’s presence.

Some inmates have even expressed their discontent, saying that Darshan’s presence has led to their pathetic situation. Meanwhile, a city court has postponed the hearing on Darshan’s transfer to Ballari jail till August 23.