VIP treatment in jail: Chief Superintendent transferred; two officials suspended

Home Minister G Parameshwara announced that for the first time, the Central Jail in Bengaluru will be overseen by an IPS officer.

Bengaluru: Following allegations of VIP treatment inside jail, Karnataka government on Monday transferred Chief Superintendent of Prisons (Parappana Agrahara) K Suresh.

Home Minister G Parameshwara further announced that for the first time, the Central Jail in Bengaluru will be overseen by an IPS officer.

Speaking to the media following a high-level meeting, he said that two other officials were suspended.

"The superintendent of prisons Mageri has been suspended immediately along with assistant superintendent Ashok Bhajantri," Parameshwara added.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and BJP State President BY Vijayendra, on Monday were detained by the police after they held a protest against alleged VIP treatment in state prisons.

Police detained the leaders near the Race Course Road who were planning to lay seige to the Chief Minister's house.

To prevent security lapse, the leaders were detained, officials said.

The issue came to the fore yet again last week after new videos of notorious criminals including serial rapist Umesh Reddy and terror suspect Juhad Hameed Shakeel Manna, using smartphones and enjoying alleged preferential treatment inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru emerged.

Another video showed inmates drinking alcohol and dancing inside the premises.