Bengaluru prison officials misled Home Minister and Home Secretary, it says

Karnataka Deputy Inspector General of Police D. Roopa has dropped another bombshell in her report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) by claiming that she had reliable information of jailed AIADMK interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala visiting a house of Hosur MLA, near the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru.

Detailing how Sasikala, who was convicted by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case, enjoyed special facilities, Ms Roopa in the report submitted last Saturday to the ACB said, “There is reliable information that she sometimes goes to a house near the Central Jail that belongs to the Hosur MLA. This may be further ascertained by CCTV cameras placed at the entrance of the jail and the cameras placed in between gate 1 & gate 2 of the jail.”

Ms. Roopa, formerly DIG (Prisons), who first exposed the privileged treatment enjoyed by Sasikala such as exclusive cells for personal use, private space to meet visitors and specially prepared food, said the prison authorities went out of way to extend the special treatment without the approval of either the court or the State government.

In the report, a copy of which was accessed by The Hindu, Ms. Roopa said the prison authorities had misled the Home Minister and Home Secretary by furnishing false information on the facilities extended to the convict.

As DIG, Prisons, Ms. Roopa, on March 4, 2017, written to the Home Secretary that Sasikala was convicted in a disproportionate assets case which came under the category of “crime involving personal greed and moral degradation as stated in the prison rules and therefore, as per rules, she cannot be considered for Class 1 or Class A category.” However, she said, Sasikala “managed” to live the life of a Class-1 prisoner against the court order.

In another communication in February last, the Additional Inspector General, Prison, had in his letter vide J1/CR-88/2016-17 written to the Home Minister’s Private Secretary that the convict wore jail clothes and ate jail food “which are factually wrong”, the report to the ACB said.

Ms. Roopa said all convicts in Karnataka jails wore white jail uniform. However, Sasikala and Ilavarasi, also convicted in the same case, wore their own clothes, including sarees and salwar-kameez. “She [Sasikala] has been provided a luxurious bed and a cot. This has not been brought to the notice of Hon’ble Court and no permission by Court taken even if it is for health reasons,” the report said.

Telgi also favoured

The report submitted by the 2000 batch IPS officer also explained in detail the special facilities given to Abdul Karim Telgi, who was convicted in the fake stamp paper case.

He was also given a brand new LED TV, a separate diet chart and special food cooked separately.

Ms. Roopa said giving special treatment to any prisoner unauthorisedly and without court orders was not only contempt of court but also violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

Moreover, it was an offence under Section-13(1)(C) of the Prevention Of Corruption Act, because the jail cells/corridor and other resources such as LED TV/material for preparation of separate food etc are properties belonging to the State and entrusted to the DGP and IG Prisons for custody.

“He [the DGP] has dishonestly/fraudulently allowed it to be unauthorisedly used/ misappropriated by another person. Therefore, offence under Section 13(1)(C) and punishable under 13(2) of Prevention Of Corruption Act 1988 is made out,” she said.

Levelling several charges against then DGP of Prisons Sathyanarayana Rao, the DIG said that an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) worth crores of rupees was awarded to a private company and money was also paid even though the phone jammers were not working.

“No efforts have been made to repair them as it suits jail officials because the officers, for pecuniary gains, wilfully allow the convicts and under-trial prisoners to use mobile phones in gross violation of the Prison Rules,” the report said.