Prison warder held for smuggling prohibited items hidden in underwear

A prison warder has been arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle in cigarettes and other contraband by hiding them in his underwear, police said. 

Rahul Patil (32) was intercepted at gate-2 of the Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara around 6.50 pm on December 3, while reporting for his night shift. 

Personnel of the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF), appointed on security checks, noticed repeated beeps during screening at the door frame metal detector.

A physical check and a scan by a hand-held metal detector revealed two packs of cigarettes (Gold Flake King) and 60 grams of a banned, thin paper-like substance hidden in the underwear of Patil’s khaki trousers, police said. 

KSISF personnel seized and sealed the items in the presence of police inspector (prison security) Manjula H P and forwarded them to the police with a complaint by jail superintendent Paramesh H A.  

Based on the findings, police arrested Patil under Section 42 of the Karnataka Prisons (Amendment) Act, 2022, and other applicable provisions. He was later remanded in judicial custody after questioning. 

“The prison warder was smuggling in the contraband to supply to inmates and high-profile undertrials. He was selling these at exorbitant prices to make easy money,” a senior police officer said. 

Patil joined the prisons and correctional services department in 2018 and was transferred to Bengaluru on June 29. 

On September 11, Kalappa H Abachi, a staff member at the Parappana Agrahara prison, was arrested for smuggling in hashish oil and gutkha packets concealed in his peaked cap.