Phone Hidden In Clothes, Pen Drive: Ex-MP Prajwal Revanna Booked After Being Found With Devices Inside Jail

The Central Crime Branch on Tuesday recovered an Android mobile phone from inside a prison in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where former Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna is serving a life sentence after being convicted in a rape case.

The recovery followed a surprise inspection by the CCB at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. During the inspection, officials searched Revanna’s barrack, where they discovered an Android mobile phone concealed in clothes, sources told CNN-News18. 

An FIR has been lodged by the Parappana Agrahara Police against the former legislator and another convicted prisoner, Pratap Rai, after certain devices –– including a Redmi phone, a pen drive, and a mobile phone charger –– were recovered from their barrack.

Revanna has

been named the prime accused in the FIR. Sources stated that he shares the barrack with Rai, adding the two are the only inmates housed there.

Revanna Feigned Ignorance When Questioned

Sources told CNN-News18 that Prajwal Revanna –– the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy –– feigned ignorance about the phone when questioned by officials.

The Police have seized the mobile phone and other devices, launching an investigation into how the items were brought inside the high-security prison.

More details are awaited.

Jail Assistant Superintendent Suspended 

After the recovery of a phone and other items from Prajwal Revanna’s barrack, a Jail Assistant Superintendent was suspended for dereliction of duty. Jail Director General Alok Kumar ordered the suspension of the Assistant Superintendent.

A notice has also been issued to Jail Chief Superintendent Anshukumar, seeking an explanation for the alleged lapse of duty, sources told CNN-News18. 

On August 6, jail authorities had conducted raids in the prison barracks, but found no mobile phone in Revanna’s possession during the search.

Meanwhile, Anshukumar has been directed to explain who provided the mobile phone to the convict. He has also been instructed to provide the details by afternoon, with a warning that failure to do so could result in Revanna being shifted to another barrack.

Prajwal Revanna was sentenced to life imprisonment last year for rape and intimidation. He was also convicted for circulating videos of the sexual assault on his 48-year-old woman, who worked as a domestic help at the Revanna family’s farmhouse in Hassan.

After the videos emerged, Revanna fled to Germany and was suspended from the JD(S). Subsequently, he lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The former JD(S) leader was arrested soon after his return to India.