Karnataka Police File FIRs Against Darshan Over Preferential Prison Treatment
Bengaluru: Karnataka Police have filed three FIRs against Kannada film star Darshan, who is currently jailed in connection with a high-profile kidnap and murder case, for receiving preferential treatment inside Bengaluru Central Prison. The action follows viral photos and videos showing Darshan enjoying amenities such as coffee, cigarettes, and making video calls while in custody.
The FIRs were lodged on August 26, based on a complaint from the prison department. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara announced that the complaints address violations of the prison manual and the Prison Act. “Action will be taken against those responsible for this breach. We will investigate who provided Darshan with these privileges,” he stated.
DG Prisons Malini Krishnamurthy, who visited the jail to oversee the probe, confirmed that Darshan is an accused in all three FIRs. The charges include the illegal use of a mobile phone, smoking inside the prison, and the unauthorized opening of his cell. The FIRs also name several prison officers and individuals visible in the viral images.
The controversial photos, showing Darshan with a cigarette and coffee on August 22, emerged when CCTV cameras in the prison were reportedly non-operational. Krishnamurthy noted that if earlier reports of Darshan’s special treatment had been known, actions would have been taken sooner. She also mentioned that future improvements, such as enhanced CCTV coverage and AI monitoring, are being considered to prevent similar incidents.
The Karnataka prisons department has suspended seven staff members, including two jailers, in response to the incident. The video, which shows Darshan seated with a cigarette and coffee while being accompanied by his manager and other inmates, has raised serious concerns about corruption within the prison system.
This development has stirred considerable controversy and has potentially hindered Darshan’s legal strategy, as he was anticipating applying for bail following the submission of the charge sheet in his case. Darshan, along with his partner Pavithra Gowda and others, faces charges related to the brutal murder of Renukaswamy on June 8. The victim, kidnapped from Chitradurga, was tortured and killed before his body was discarded in a canal, discovered by security personnel of a private apartment building.
The incident has not only shocked the public but also deeply affected the victim’s family, leaving them to grapple with the tragic loss.
